Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois Data Series 726 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Snowplows attempting to push accumulated rainfall off the Tarmac at O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, September 14, 2008. Photograph used with permission of David Lastrucci, ALPI U.S.A. Inc. Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois By David J. Fazio and Jennifer B. Sharpe Data Series 726 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Fazio, D.J., and Sharpe, J.B., 2012, Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in northeastern Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 726, 40 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/726/. iii Acknowledgments This report presents a compilation of information supplied by many agencies and individuals. The authors would like to thank the Illinois Department of Natural Resources–Office of Water Resources (IDNR-OWR) and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) for their work in measuring the elevation of the set high-water marks. The authors also acknowledge the many personnel in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)–Illinois Water Science Center who took streamflow measurements during the flooding and identified and flagged the high-water marks after the floodwaters had subsided. The authors acknowledge Bonnie Stich of the USGS–Office of Communications and Publishing for her timely and thorough editorial review of the report, and Pamela Lombard, Gary Johnson, and Jon Hortness of the USGS for their timely and thorough review of technical aspects of this report. Lastly, the authors acknowledge Tom Over, Audrey Ishii, and Kelly Warner of the USGS for their guidance throughout this study. This page has been left blank intentionally. v Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1 Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois ....................................................4 Flood-Peak Water-Surface Profiles ...................................................................................................4 Flood Damages and Impacts ..............................................................................................................5 Summary........................................................................................................................................................22 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................22 Glossary .........................................................................................................................................................24 Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois ........................................................................26 Appendix 2. Example High-Water Mark Documentation Field Sheet, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois ............................................................................................................36 Appendix 3. Flood-Peak Water-Surface Profiles at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois .......................................................................................37 Figures 1. Map of flood and high-flow conditions in the United States as measured by U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations on September 14, 2008 .....................2 2. Map of study area showing locations of select streams, select U.S. Geological Survey streamgages, and high-water marks from the September 13–16, 2008, flood ......3 3. Map showing Next Generation RADAR (NEXRAD) total storm precipitation during September 12–14, 2008, in northeastern Illinois ......................................................................7 4. Graph showing cumulative precipitation during September 3–14, 2008, for select rain gages in northeastern Illinois .............................................................................................8 5. Photographs of selected high-water marks in October 2008 ..............................................20 6. Photographs of the Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility, DuPage County, Illinois .....21 7. Photogragh of passenger jet taxiing to a terminal at O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, September 14, 2008 ......................................................................................21 Tables 1. Rainfall data for a 3-day period at selected rain gages in northeastern Illinois, September 12–14, 2008 ..............................................................................................................10 2. Flood-peak gage height, peak discharge, and annual exceedance probability of peak discharge during the flood of September 2008 at selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in northeastern Illinois .........................................................................16 3. List of communities, by stream reach, and approximate number of miles where high-water marks were set for the September 13–16, 2008, flood in northeastern Illinois ...................................................................................................................18 4. Counties eligible for individual disaster assistance approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and ranked by dollar amount .......................................22 vi Conversion Factors, Datums, and Abbreviations Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm) inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) Volume acre foot 1,233 cubic meter (m3) gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L) gallon (gal) 0.003785 cubic meter (m3) Flow rate gallon per minute (gal/min) 0.06309 liter per second (L/s) inch per year (in/yr) 25.4 millimeter per year (mm/yr) Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows: °F=(1.8×°C)+32 Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows: °C=(°F–32)/1.8 Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum. vii List of Abbreviations AEP annual exceedance probability CSO combined sewer overflow FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency FGCS Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee GIS Geographic Information System GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System IDNR–OWR Illinois Department of Natural Resources–Office of Water Resources IDOT Illinois Department of Transportation ISWS Illinois State Water Survey KML Keyhole Markup Language MWRDGC Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago NEXRAD Next Generation RADAR NGS National Geodetic Survey NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NWS National Weather Service PFDS Precipitation Frequency Data Server RADAR Radio Detection and Ranging TARP Tunnel and Reservoir Plan USGS U.S. Geological Survey This page has been left blank intentionally. Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois By David J. Fazio and Jennifer B. Sharpe Abstract scientific, unbiased information about the Nation’s rivers and streams. To meet critical needs for real-time streamflow data Major flooding occurred in northeastern Illinois during during the September 2008 flood event, USGS personnel September 13–16, 2008, following extended storm activity. were mobilized to the areas of flooding in order to make Rainfall recorded at select Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), direct streamflow measurements and maintain the operational National Weather Service (NWS), and U.S. Geological readiness of the streamgages (See Activities Log at http:// Survey (USGS) rain gages in northeastern Illinois, ranged il.water.usgs.gov/flooddata/viewNews.cgi?date=20080913). from 2.39 to 10.51 inches throughout a 51-hour period USGS personnel collected 48 streamflow measurements at during September 12–14, 2008. The rainfall resulted in 45 streamgages; 4 additional streamflow measurements