Flash Flood Drenches Winnetka, Glencoe Without Power

UPDATED 1 p.m. --

The number of ComEd customers in Glencoe without power has dropped to 10 percent, or 317 customers, according to a village press release.

More than 72,000 ComEd customers in the Chicagoland area are without power.

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Following this week's blisteringly hot temperatures, the weather hit another extreme with flash flooding on Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Parts of Winnetka, Glencoe and Northfield are flooded - and many main streets are impassable - due to the four inches of rain that fell between 11:30 p.m. on Friday and 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The Winnetka branch of the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library is under two feet of water, according to Erin Maassen, the PR and marketing specialist for the library district.

She called the damage "extensive."

"The two feet of water is in the basement, where all our staff offices are, after a basement door blew open in the middle of the night," she said.

Major Winnetka Streets Closed

"There is significant and deep flooding of numerous basements throughout the village," according to a Winnetka press release. "There have also been some limited power outages, and there are some downed trees as well."

Glencoe Without Power

As of 9 a.m. on Saturday, one-third of ComEd customers in Glencoe were without power.

According to the Village of Glencoe's press release, about 1,120 Glencoe customers lost electricity due to the overnight storm. ComEd estimates power will be restored at "some point today [Saturday]."

Earlier:

Officials Urge Residents to Stay Home

Winnetka Public Works, Electrical, Water, Fire and Police personnel have been working on power failures and extensive flooding, and ask that residents stay home and avoid travel if possible.

"Numerous vehicles have been flooded and abandoned throughout village roadways," reads the Village of Winnetka press release. "We have done our best to barricade impassable streets, but conditions continue to change rapidly."

The village also notes that the water and sewer systems are "running at capacity."

What to Do if Flooded

If residents' houses or basements are flooded, the village strongly urges residents not to enter the area in case of electrical shock. Call Public Works with flooding concerns at 847-716-3568, or call the Water and Electric Department with electric panel concerns at 847-501-2531.

What to Do if Powerless

Glencoe officials opened up the Glencoe Village Hall, 675 Village Court, for a cooling center and for a charging center for those without power. Residents can also call the Department of Public Safety in Glenoce at 847-835-4112.

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