Preparing Chicago for Urban Flooding, Lightning, and High-Rise Safety
Chicago’s storm season brings challenges like urban flooding, lightning strikes, and high-rise emergencies. Proper preparation is essential to protect lives and property. At CWF Restoration, we specialize in helping Chicagoans prepare for and recover from severe weather events.
Urban Flooding: A Growing Concern
Heavy rainfall can overwhelm Chicago’s combined sewer system, leading to urban flooding.
To mitigate urban flooding risks:
- Avoid Water Use During Storms: Refrain from using dishwashers, washing machines, or showers during heavy rain to reduce strain on the sewer system.
- Prepare an Emergency Kit: Include essentials like bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, and important documents stored in waterproof containers.
- Stay Informed: Monitor local weather updates and heed flood warnings.
If flooding occurs, our water damage restoration services are available 24/7 to assist with cleanup and repairs.
Lightning Protection: Safeguarding Your Property
Lightning poses significant risks during storms. To protect your home or business:
- Install Lightning Protection Systems: Ensure your building has a certified lightning protection system to direct strikes safely to the ground.
- Avoid Electrical Equipment: During storms, stay away from wired electronics and plumbing fixtures.
- Stay Indoors: Remain inside until 30 minutes after the last thunderclap.
For assistance with storm damage, our storm damage restoration services are ready to help.
High-Rise Emergency Preparedness
Residents and managers of high-rise buildings should:
- Develop an Emergency Plan: Include evacuation routes, designated safety officers, and communication protocols.
- Conduct Regular Drills: Practice evacuations and emergency procedures periodically.
- Maintain Emergency Equipment: Ensure fire alarms, sprinklers, and backup lighting are functional.
Our restoration and rebuild services can assist with repairs following storm-related incidents.
City Emergency Resources
Chicago offers several resources during storm season:
- 311 Service: For non-emergency assistance and information.
- OEMC Alerts: Sign up for emergency alerts from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
- Warming and Cooling Centers: Access city-designated centers during extreme temperatures.
Stay connected with local authorities and follow their guidance during emergencies.
FAQs About Chicago Flooding Preparation
If water is still rising, shut off power only if you can reach the main breaker without stepping into water, then dial 311 to report a possible city sewer backup and call CWF Restoration’s 24-hour line. Our crews reach Chicago neighborhoods within an hour, use truck-mounted pumps and generators to extract standing water even during outages, disinfect surfaces with hospital-grade solutions to neutralize combined-sewer bacteria, and set industrial dehumidifiers before mold or efflorescence can take hold. Because CWF also handles reconstruction, the same team that performs the extraction can replace drywall, insulation, flooring, and trim once drying goals are met.
A typical policy covers wind, hail, and lightning but excludes water that enters through the ground or backs up through a drain unless you add a water-backup endorsement, usually $75–$150 per year for $10,000–$25,000 of extra protection. Without that rider, cleanup and repairs come out of pocket. CWF Restoration works with every major carrier licensed in Illinois, supplying moisture maps, photographs, and scope sheets so storm-related claims that do qualify pass through underwriting with minimal delay.
An overhead sewer reroutes a building’s main drain from the basement floor to a point above the basement ceiling, then lifts wastewater with an ejector pump during normal use; when the street sewer surcharges during heavy rain, basement fixtures are now “overhead” and cannot backflow. Homes in low-lying areas such as Albany Park or Jefferson Park experience far fewer backups after conversion, and the City’s Private Drain Program may reimburse part of the cost.
Install a UL-listed whole-house surge suppressor at the service panel and make sure your grounding electrode system meets the current Chicago Electrical Code. For high-value residences or businesses, a certified lightning-protection contractor can bond roof conductors, gutters, and metal vents to a strike-termination network that channels energy safely to ground rods. During storms, unplug sensitive electronics and avoid wired phones or plumbing until 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Mold spores can germinate on damp drywall, framing, or carpet in as little as 24–48 hours when indoor humidity stays above 60 percent. Once colonies spread behind wall cavities they become far more expensive to remove. CWF Restoration uses dehumidifiers, contains the area under negative pressure, and follows the IICRC S520 protocol to eliminate growth before it degrades air quality.
Equipment should operate until structural-moisture readings return to pre-loss baselines, typically three to seven days for drywall and framing, but up to ten for hardwood floors or multilayer subfloors. Shutting machines off early traps moisture inside walls and encourages mold or warped finishes.
Condo boards and building managers should maintain an OEMC-compliant emergency action plan that lists shelter-in-place floors, generator locations, and a call tree for rapid water-extraction or board-up vendors. Annual drills ensure residents know alternate exits when elevators shut down, and quarterly roof-drain inspections prevent ponding that can cascade down mechanical shafts.
Limit water use during storms, clear gutters and downspouts, extend downspouts at least four feet from the foundation, and install a normally closed backflow valve on the main drain to stop reverse flow from the city’s combined sewer. Proper lot grading and window-well covers also keep stormwater from pooling against basement walls.
Partner with CWF Restoration for Storm Damage
Preparation is key to minimizing storm damage. At CWF Restoration, we offer comprehensive services to help you before, during, and after severe weather events. Contact us today to learn how we can assist in protecting your property.
