Water Rescues Underway In Wilmington As Ice Jams Melt, Bring Flooding

WILMINGTON, IL — The Will County Emergency Management Agency and City of Wilmington officials announced that authorities responded to flash flooding in downtown Wilmington on the Thursday evening. The flooding occurred on the North and South Islands due to rapidly increasing water levels on the Kankakee River, authorities said.

Will County EMA issued a mass notification message to residents, advising them of the rising water levels and the need to evacuate. Water rescue teams were deployed, and 14 people were successfully evacuated to a temporary shelter opened by Wilmington ESDA.

In addition, the Chicagoland FireGround Scanner, a public safety Facebook that publishes police scanner traffic, announced that more water rescues were underway around 11 p.m. along Route 53 and Water Street as the ice jams broke free, causing the Kankakee River to change course and bringing the flooding into downtown Wilmington.

"Multiple residents stranded in homes/businesses/ area completely shut down," the Facebook page declared.

According to Will County, flooding in downtown Wilmington is isolated to the North and South Islands. However, ice remains solid on the Kankakee River and water levels are steadily increasing due to water runoff and melting ice.

The ice jam on the river has not fully broken and there is the potential for flooding throughout the day as ice begins breaking apart at a rapid pace. The area remains under a flash flood warning and residents should be prepared to take action, including evacuation, if necessary.

Wilmington's residents and commuters should be aware that Route 53, between 102 and 1st Street, will be closed until further notice. The North and South Islands remain closed to the public.