Naperville Flooding Updates: D203, D204 Cancel School; Bridges Reopen

Update: 2:28 p.m.

The Eagle Street bridge in downtown Naperville has reopened, according to the city. All bridges in the downtown area have now reopened after being closed as a result of high flood waters. 

Update: 1:07 p.m.

The city has reopened Washington Street, Main Street and Jefferson Avenue bridges in downtown Naperville. The Eagle Street bridge remains closed at this time, according to the city.

An area of standing water remains on Jefferson Avenue west of the Jefferson Avenue bridge, causing vehicles to travel single file through that area.

Update: 11:14 a.m.

The city has launched a Flood Recovery Information page with tips on disposal of carperting, electronics and hazardous waste. 

Update: 10:53 a.m.

All branches of the Naperville Public Library are open for normal hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.

Update 7:04 a.m.

Naperville Park District programs scheduled before 3 p.m. today are canceled. The park district will make an announcement regarding evening programs later today. 

Naper Settlement is closed today. 

North Central College campus is open. 

Update: 5:55 a.m.

Naperville School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204 officials have canceled classes for Friday, April 19.

From District 204: 

Due to ongoing issues with flooding from yesterday's rain, including buses in an area that is inaccessible, all schools in District 204 will be closed on Friday, April 19. Thank you.

Update: 4:42 a.m.

From the city of Naperville:

Due to continued high floodwaters, all bridges in the downtown Naperville area remain closed for now. These include the Washington Street, Main Street and Eagle Street bridges. The Jefferson Avenue Bridge also remains closed. The city highly encourages all people to avoid the downtown area for their safety. 

Signage is located at Washington Street and Naper Boulevard at 75th Street to alert motorists and direct them to alternate routes. Police officers will be stationed throughout the downtown at barricades to ensure public safety and direct the public accordingly.

For the morning commute, the map showing road closures and those streets with standing water is updated and available to view on the city’s website at www.naperville.il.us. A Flood Operations webpage is updated at www.naperville.il.us/floodops.aspx.

As a reminder, throughout the day, if people encounter standing water on streets at any location, they should not drive or walk through the area. For their safety, the public should stay away from all ponds and the DuPage River.

Update: 9:01 p.m.

The Eagle Street Bridge is expected to remain closed through Friday morning, according to the city. 

The city is warning residents to not go near flooded roads, ponds or the DuPage River.

An interactive flood map can be found on the city’s website at www.naperville.il.us, which includes road closure updates. 

Current major road closures expected to impact the Friday morning commute include:

• Naper Boulevard from Chicago Avenue to Hobson Road
• Washington Street south of Royce Road
• North Aurora Road west of Route 59 and between Route 59 and Tudor
• 111th to 248th west to the railroad (closed by the railroad)

Flood Clean-Up Information

Destroyed carpeting should be placed at the curb in front of homes, which will be picked up through the end of next week on regularly scheduled garage days. Carperting needs to be bundled and no more than four feet in length, two feet wide and weighing no more than 60 pounds. 

Residents are also asked to continue to use containers up to 32 gallons in capacity and 60 pounds in weight or one of thecCity-issued garbage carts. Furniture and appliances are included in the normal collection, according to the city.

Collection of drywall and lumber will continue to be limited to two 32-gallon containers. Electronics can be disposed of at the city’s Recycling Drop-Off Center, 180 Fort Hill Dr., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. 

For more flood damage and clean-up information, visit the following:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov/mold/, www.epa.gov/iaq/flood/index.html andwww.epa.gov/naturaldisasters/flooding.html

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC): www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/protect.asp
• DuPage County Health Department: http://www.dupagehealth.org/after-the-flood

Updated: 8:49 p.m.

Washington Street bridge has been closed again. Estimated time until reopening is three to four hours, according to the city.

Updated: 8:32 p.m. 

A flood warning remains in effect for the West Branch of the DuPage River, according to the National Weather Service. 

The river reached 16.5 feet at 7:15 p.m. Thursday. The flood stage is 11.5 feet. 

The river is expected to rise to 16.7 feet by Friday morning and then fall below flood stage by Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. 

DuPage County fully opened the Fawell Dam around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, which caused additional flooding to areas along the river. As a result, the city of Naperville temporarily closed the Washington Street bridge, but it was reopened later Thursday night.

Updated: 6:32 p.m.

Due to rising flood waters and the full opening of the DuPage County Fawell Dam, Washington Street and Eagle Street bridges have been closed, according to the city.

"Please continue to avoid the downtown area and plan alternate routes if you must travel this evening. For your safety, please do not go near flooded roadways, ponds or the DuPage River," according to a city release.

City officials are monitoring the situation. Closures of the Main Street and Gartner Road bridges could also occur this evening. The Jefferson Avenue bridge, located west of downtown, is anticipated to remain open, according to the city.

However, water will likely cover Jefferson Avenue, making the roadway impassable. The city is encouraging the public to avoid that area.

Updated: 4:39 p.m.

Major roadways to avoid include: 

• Washington Street in the downtown area
• Washington Street south of Royce Road
• Naper Blvd. – Chicago to 75th Street
• North Aurora – west of Route 59 and between Route 59 and Tudor
• Ogden – East of Naper Blvd.
• 111th – 248th west to the railroad tracks

Updated: 4:12 p.m. 

Eagle Street, Washington Street and Main Street bridges in downtown Naperville are being closed due to flooding, according to the city of Naperville.

The following is from the city of Naperville:

"It is anticipated that DuPage County will be opening the Fawell Dam completely which will result in additional water coming downstream into downtown Naperville. When this occurs to ensure the safety of the public, the Washington Street, Main Street, and Eagle Street bridges over the DuPage River will be closed.

It is also likely that water may overflow onto Chicago Avenue and Jackson Avenue and there is a possibility that businesses may experience some flooding."

Updated: 3:23 p.m.

The city of Naperville has been receiving flooding reports throughout the day. 

"Sand and sandbags are available at Riverview Court, Centennial Beach and the 95th Street Library. Residents should bring shovels to fill their own bags. At this time, volunteers are not needed to assist with filling bags," according to the city of Naperville

• Naperville road closures: www.naperville.il.us 
• Flood Operations: Click here. 

Destroyed carpeting should be placed at the curb in front of homes, which will be picked up through the end of next week. Carperting needs to be bundled and no more than four feet in length, two feet wide and weighing no more than 60 pounds. 

Updated: 3:15 p.m.

More than 6 inches of rain has fallen in Naperville and an additional half-inch is predicted, according to the National Weather Service. 

The city of Naperville continues to issue safety warnings for residents, asking people to stay out of flood water. According to the city, the Naperville Fire Department rescued people kayaking in the water Thursday afternoon around 2 p.m. 

Updated: 10:41 a.m.

All day and night classes at North Central College are canceled and the college will remain closed Thursday. The dining hall will remain open for students who live on campus. Drivers and pedestrians are urged to remain cautious.

Updated: 10:26 a.m.

The Naperville Public Library is closing early at 10:30 a.m. due to the weather, the library posted on its website. 

Updated: 10:15 a.m.

From District 203

Due to restricted and blocked travel routes resulting from weather conditions, District 203 schools will engage our early dismissal process. High School students will begin dismissing at Noon. Junior High Schools will dismiss at 1 p.m., followed by Elementary schools at 2:30 p.m. Busses will drop students as close to their stop as possible.

• Afternoon pre-school at Ann Reid Early Childhood Center and PM Kindergarten at all elementary school will be cancelled.
• After school clubs, activities and athletics and programs AT ALL LEVEL (PK-12) have been cancelled.
• YMCA Safe ‘n Sound program IS NOT CANCELLED.
• District Dual language Information Program scheduled for tonight is cancelled.

The school district is working in cooperation with the city of Naperville Public Works who issued a request late this morning, after our bus pick-up routes had already begun, that cars stay off the streets as much as possible. Early dismissal will help ease travel in the city before this afternoon and assist us in delivering your student home safely.

Update: 9:50 a.m.

The city of Naperville is asking residents to be cautious and do not drive through areas where standing water is on streets. Residents are also asked to stay away from ponds and the DuPage River.

In addition, residents with flooded basements are asked to be cautious about electrical equipment and cords that may be located in those areas to reduce the risk of electrocution. 

The city will continue to monitor flooding throughout the city as more than six inches of rain has been reported since Wednesday.

Residents can find an interactive floodzone map showing flooded roadways and those with standing water. Also available is a flood operations page.

The city has made sand and sand bags available to residents in need, according to the city of Naperville. Residents can now go to Riverview Court, off of Hillside Road, to fill and take sand bags. If additional sandbag sites are warranted, these will be communicated as they become available.

Sixteen Department of Public Works trucks are on the roadways evaluating the status of streets and ponds, the city said. Barricades will be placed at roadways where flooding is anticipated to occur later in the day. Public safety personnel are currently responding to multiple reports of stalled vehicles and encourage everyone to stay off the roadways if possible. 

Update: 8:25 a.m.

Naperville School District 203 officials announced that student attendance is optional Thursday due to heavy rainfall.

"Please send students to school only if safe to do so," according to D203.

Washington Street in downtown Naperville near Martin Avenue and Naperville Cemetery is down to one lane with approximately 8 inches of water on the road, according to the city of Naperville.

Update: 8:09 a.m.

Thunderstorms in the area have caused power outages, according to the city of Naperville.

Current outages have been reported from Thackery south to Gromman Road; Bennett Drive east to Naper/Plainfield Road; 103rd south to 111th and Route 59 east to Book Road, according to the city.

City crews are currently working on resorting power to those areas. 

Update: 8:03 a.m.

Heavy flooding in south Naperville at 103rd Street between Route 59 and Schillinger Drive as well as 95th Street and west of 248th Avenue, according to eyewitness.

Update: 7:53 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flooding warning for DuPage County until noon Thursday. 

"Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, highways, viaducts and underpasses," according to the National Weather Service. 

Rainfall rates of 1 to 1.5 inches per hour are occuring. 

"Thunderstorms with periods of heavy rainfall will continue over the next several hours," according to the National Weather Service. 

Metra is experiencing a number of delays up to 20 minutes along the BNSF line. The pedestrian tunnel at the Naperville station is flooded due to heavy rainfall and severe weather conditions, according to Metra.

7:45 a.m.

Heavy rainfall has led to flooding in Naperville, closing several roads as well as Indian Prairie School District 204 schools and causing Metra Burlington Northern Sante Fe delays.

Classes have been cancelled at District 204 schools Thursday, but Naperville School District 203 schools will remain open. However, buses for District 203 students may be delayed. 

The city of Naperville posted the following alert on its Facebook page Thursday morning, issuing a warning to drivers:

"Several roads are closed due to flooding. DO NOT TRY TO DRIVE THROUGH IT. Be safe and be dry. Stay home if you can," the post reads.

The flooding caused District 204 officials to cancel class for Thursday.

"Due to the flooding and road closures, all schools in District 204 are closed today, Thursday, April 18. We apologize for the delay in announcing the closure, but our buses are finding it too difficult to travel safely this morning due to flooding. Please visit the districts website, www.ipsd.org for updated information."

The total amount of rainfall for the last 24 hours, as of 7 a.m., was 3.24 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Romeoville. A new string of storms is currently moving through the area, with a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 8:15 a.m.

Heavy rainfall is being predicted for the rest of the day through 1 a.m. Friday. The area could get as much as another one to two inches of precipitation.

Patch will continue to update this story throughout the day.

If you know of something affected by the weather or have photos you'd like to share, email Collin Czarnecki at naperville@patch.com.