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McHenry County board updates sandbag distribution, closes River Road as Fox River nears major‑flood stage
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Summary
Chair and emergency management officials said sandbag production and distribution are ongoing after heavy rain; River Road near McHenry Dam was closed to all traffic after water covered the pavement and the Fox River approached major‑flood levels.
The McHenry County Board heard an update on flooding and local response at its April 21 meeting as the Fox River approached major‑flood stage.
Chair (speaker 1) told the board the county’s chain of lakes is closed to boating and the Fox River at Algonquin was “hovering at moderate flood stage at 11.9 feet, just below the critical 12 foot threshold,” adding that sandbag production and distribution are ongoing in Nunda Township and other flood‑prone municipalities. The chair thanked the county’s emergency management agency (EMA), volunteers and partnering agencies, and said the EMA secured additional sandbags from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Board members urged residents to avoid driving on flooded roads. Kaminski (speaker 7) warned that currents on closed waterways can be deceptively strong and urged residents not to enter the water. Shorten (speaker 5) and others reminded residents that private roads often have hidden damage beneath standing water and recommended combining trips and exercising caution.
Assistant County Engineer Daryl (speaker 21) told the board that McHenry County DOT closed River Road near the McHenry Dam after seeing roughly six inches of water across the roadway, calling it a hazard for motorists. He said message boards were deployed and the road will remain closed until water recedes and the pavement is safe for traffic.
The board’s emergency and public‑works updates emphasized ongoing monitoring of river levels, sandbag availability through townships and county resources, and inter‑county cooperation in the emergency operations center. No additional formal action was taken beyond the briefing.
