Des Plaines River Moderate Flood Warning — Lake County IL, Active Thru Oct 1

The National Weather Service office in Chicago upgraded an active flood warning for the Des Plaines River in Lake County, Illinois to Moderate severity on September 28, 2026, as the river climbed above established flood stage near Russell. The warning — which covers the river corridor running from the Illinois-Wisconsin state line southward to US-41 in Gurnee — remains in effect through October 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM CDT, placing communities across northern Lake County on notice as river levels remain elevated.

Residents in Russell, Antioch, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Gurnee, and Zion are within or adjacent to the active warning zone. While the Des Plaines River is forecast to slowly fall below flood stage toward the end of the week, the period of elevated water and saturated conditions can leave properties vulnerable in ways that aren’t always immediately visible. Homeowners in the corridor should use this window — as the river begins its gradual descent — to carefully inspect their properties before damage has a chance to compound.

What the National Weather Service Confirmed

According to NWS Chicago, the Des Plaines River near Russell reached a stage of 7.6 feet as of 8:30 PM CDT on Monday, September 28, 2026. The established flood stage for this gauge location is 7.0 feet. The maximum recorded stage in the preceding 24-hour period reached 7.9 feet, indicating the river was near its recent crest before beginning its gradual decline.

NWS Chicago reports that agricultural and park land near the river is inundated, and that residential property is threatened along the corridor from the Illinois-Wisconsin state line downstream to US-41 in Gurnee. The Flood Warning is in effect until October 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM CDT. Per NWS Chicago, the river is forecast to slowly fall below flood stage toward the end of the week.

For current river stage readings and updated forecast information, visit weather.gov.

What Homeowners in Russell, Antioch, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Gurnee, and Zion Should Check Now

Properties that did not experience direct floodwater contact can still sustain meaningful damage during periods of elevated river levels and sustained heavy rainfall. Saturated ground, rising water tables, and overloaded drainage systems create risk well beyond the immediate floodplain. If you’re in Antioch, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Gurnee, Zion, or Russell, work through the checklist below as soon as it is safe to do so.

Roof

• Walk the perimeter of your home and look upward for displaced, curled, or missing shingles. Heavy sustained rainfall and wind can loosen roofing materials that were already near the end of their service life.
• Check the attic for daylight penetrating the deck, water staining on rafters or sheathing, or damp insulation — all signs that water has breached the roof plane.
• Inspect flashing around chimneys, skylights, vent pipes, and any roof penetration. Lifted or separated flashing is one of the most common post-storm entry points for water and is easy to miss from the ground.

Gutters and Downspouts

• Look for gutters that are pulling away from the fascia board, sagging in the middle, or packed with storm debris. Blocked gutters overflow directly against your siding, soffit, and foundation.
• Confirm downspouts are directing water at least three to four feet away from your foundation. Saturated soil against the foundation wall is the primary driver of basement and crawl space water intrusion after flood-adjacent events.
• Check gutter seams and end caps — sustained heavy flow can separate joints and send water directly down exterior walls or against the foundation line.

Siding and Exterior Walls

• Walk all four sides of your home and look for cracked, buckled, or missing siding panels, especially at low sections near grade level where splash-back and pooling are most intense.
• Inspect caulking around every window frame, door frame, and exterior penetration — even a small gap becomes a water entry point under sustained rainfall pressure.
• Look for water staining on exterior walls below window sills or around utility penetrations, which can signal slow infiltration that has been underway for longer than this single event.

Trees and Landscaping

• Inspect mature trees near the home for signs of leaning, newly exposed root systems at the base, or large hanging branches. Saturated soil dramatically reduces the anchoring strength of root systems — trees that looked fine before the rain may now be unstable.
• Do not approach or stand beneath any tree that appears to be leaning or structurally compromised. Have a qualified arborist assess it before getting close.
• Clear debris that has washed against your foundation or that is blocking surface drainage paths away from the structure.

Basement and Crawl Space

• Check for water seeping through foundation walls, floor cracks, or around window wells. Even hairline cracks allow water entry under hydrostatic pressure from fully saturated soil.
• A musty or earthy odor in a basement that appears dry on the surface often signals moisture infiltration behind wall finishes or within floor insulation.
• Verify that your sump pump is operational and that the discharge line is unobstructed and directed well away from the foundation.

If You Find Damage

If your inspection turns up damage, the steps you take in the next 24 to 48 hours can significantly affect both your safety and the outcome of any insurance claim. Here is how to approach it:

1. Document everything before cleanup or repairs. Photograph and video each area of concern — wide shots to establish context, close-ups to capture specific damage detail. Use your phone’s date-stamp feature. Cover every affected room, every exterior elevation, and every piece of damaged material before anything is moved or discarded.
2. Retain damaged materials where possible. Damaged shingles, flooring, insulation, and similar items are physical evidence that supports your insurance claim. Do not discard them until a contractor or insurance adjuster has had the opportunity to inspect them.
3. Make only necessary emergency repairs. If there is an active roof breach, cover it with a tarp to prevent further water entry. Photograph the damaged area both before and after the temporary repair, and save all receipts for materials and labor.
4. File your claim promptly. Contact your insurance company, report the damage, and obtain your claim number. Ask your insurer about the timeline for a field adjuster visit. You have the right to have a licensed contractor present during that inspection to ensure all damage is properly identified.
5. Work with a licensed restoration contractor. A qualified contractor can document damage in professional detail, prepare written repair estimates, and meet with your insurance adjuster on-site. Allied Emergency Services is an Illinois-licensed restoration contractor — we can document damage thoroughly, provide detailed estimates, meet with your adjuster during the field inspection, and perform the covered repairs. We are not a public adjuster and do not negotiate, settle, or adjust insurance claims on your behalf.

For general guidance on recovering after flood events, ready.gov provides practical resources for property owners and renters.

This article is provided as general information only and does not constitute legal or insurance advice. Coverage, policy terms, and claim outcomes vary — consult your insurance professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Allied Emergency Services Is Ready

Allied Emergency Services has served Lake County and the greater Chicagoland region since 2015. With more than a decade in storm damage restoration, our licensed teams understand what sustained flooding, elevated water tables, and heavy rainfall do to homes along corridors like the Des Plaines River — and what it takes to restore them correctly.

If you’re in Gurnee, Antioch, Lake Villa, Zion, Lindenhurst, Russell, or anywhere along the Des Plaines River warning corridor and you’ve found damage — don’t wait. Water infiltration behind walls and under flooring compounds quickly, and what starts as a manageable repair can become a major remediation project within days.

Call us 24/7 at (800) 792-0212 — or text ESTIMATE to (844) 907-2546 — and we’ll get a licensed estimator to your property fast.