Overview
- National Weather Service warnings cover Des Plaines, Lincolnshire and Russell as the river sits around 15 to 15.8 feet and is forecast to crest near 17 feet this weekend.
- City crews are stacking sandbags, running pumps and placing barriers on River Road while the Des Plaines Fire Station fortifies its building and tests water-rescue gear.
- Low-lying spots are already under water, including the old Methodist Campground and several river islands downtown, and officials say nearby roads and basements face growing risk.
- Authorities urge people to stay out of floodwater because it is contaminated and can hide hazards, and they warn that a foot of moving water can sweep away a car.
- More rain is expected before a warmup that could help levels recede, and longtime riverfront homeowners describe repeated floods that have led some to raise their houses.