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Flood Information
SALT CREEK FLOOD LEVELS
The following
link to the Illinois
USGS web site will allow you to access real-time
water levels for Salt Creek. Within this site, you can
either go directly to view Salt Creek levels by entering
the specific Gauge # (05531410 for 22nd Street, 05531300
for Elmhurst) or simply navigate around the USGS site
for other options.
ELMHURST
QUARRY FLOOD CONTROL FACILITY
When Salt Creek
water elevations reach near flood stage, excess flood
water is held in the Elmhurst Quarry until creek water
levels have receded to safe levels. Information regarding
the operation of this flood control facility is available
at
http://www.dupageco.org/dec/generic.cfm?doc_id=574
NATIONAL
FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM
COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM OUTREACH PROJECT
The best time
to prepare for a flood is before it happens. Floods cause
anguish and destruction physically, emotionally and financially.
Village of Oak Brook residents have experienced flooding
from Salt Creek, Ginger Creek and sewer backups in the
past. As homeowners, there are a few things you should
know about flood safety, preventing flood damage, flood
plain regulation and insurance.
Flood
Safety
A number of
precautions should be taken in the event of a flood. Electricity
and gas should be turned off if your home is being flooded.
Walking through flood water should be avoided especially
if the flood water is moving rapidly as drowning is the
number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash
floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of
moving water can knock you off your feet. If you
walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure
that the ground is still there. Do not drive through
a flooded area as more people drown in their cars than
anywhere else. Don't drive around road barriers;
the road or bridge may be washed out. After exposure to
flood water, residents are advised to receive a tetanus
shot if they have not received one in awhile.
Preventing
Flood Damage
The Village
provides advice on how to retrofit buildings to prevent
flood damage. There are generally five approaches to retrofitting:
elevation, barriers, dry flood proofing, wet flood proofing
and basement protection. Other property protection measures
include grading, ditch cleaning, moving furniture and
sandbagging. For information on these and other flood
protection issues, please contact the Village of Oak Brook
Community Development Department at 368-5108.
Flood
Plain Development
Development
in or near a flood plain may be allowed only upon application
and issuance of the appropriate Village permits. Flood
plain map information is available through the Village
of Oak Brook Engineering Department at 368.5130. If you
are planning to build, fill or otherwise develop in a
flood plain, please contact the Village of Oak Brook Community
Development Department. If you witness what you believe
to be illegal flood plain development, please contact
the Engineering Department at 368.5130.
Village Code
also states that existing structures shall not be enlarged,
replaced or structurally altered unless the changes meet
the requirements for development. If the changes constitute
substantial improvement to a building in the flood plain,
then the entire building will need to meet the requirements
for development. Substantial improvement is when
the cost of reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition,
or other improvements to a building equals or exceeds
50% of the market value. Substantially damaged buildings
must also be brought up to the same standards. Enforcement
of this requirement is achieved through the permitting
procedure.
Flood
Insurance
The Flood Disaster
Protection Act of 1973 helps to ensure that you will be
protected from financial losses caused by flooding. Backed
by the U.S. Government, flood insurance is available to
residents in more than 18,000 communities across America
that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP). It provides coverage that most homeowners insurance
does not (e.g. coverage for damage to structures and contents
from flooding, flood-related erosion, and mud slides).
In all of these communities, you can purchase flood insurance
from any licensed property or casualty insurance agent,
broker or company.
You must have
flood insurance to get secured financing to buy, build,
or improve structures in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs).
Lending institutions that are federally regulated or insured
must determine if the building is in a SFHA and require
flood insurance on conventional home mortgage loans, FHA
loans, VA loans, second mortgages, home equity loans,
home improvement loans, construction loans and commercial
loans. In addition, a thirty day waiting period
exists before the insurance is effective.
Flood insurance
coverage is an asset to you as a borrower. It reimburses
you for financial losses from flood damage. With one annual
premium you have peace of mind that your losses will be
covered. The law protects you from being uninsured and
having to rely on a costly federal disaster loan after
a flood. This loan is the same as another mortgage that
must be paid back with interest.
All taxpayers benefit, too, when those
in flood-prone areas buy flood insurance. As floods occur,
the insurance mechanism pays for the covered losses rather
than U.S. Treasury funds for federal disaster assistance.
Flood insurance protects your most
important investment. It is considerably less expensive
than federal disaster loans and is 100% backed by the
U.S. Government. Call toll free the National Flood Insurance
Program at 1-800-638-6620 to answer any questions you
may have about flood insurance. Details on flood insurance
are also available from your insurance agent or company.
For
More Information...
If you have
questions about the information in this article, please
feel free to contact the Village's CRS Coordinator
at 368.5130.
In addition, the Oak Brook Library maintains a selection
of publications pertaining to the National Flood Insurance
Program including insurance requirements, flood proofing
techniques, proper grading, etc. Please take advantage
of these resources by visiting the Library at 600 Oak
Brook Road. Finally, you may also contact the
Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.FEMA.gov
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