Ice jams cause flooding fears along Kankakee River
Flooding fears are rising along the Kankakee River as the bitter cold threatens to create major ice dams.
"This is from the Kankakee River. It is seeping through the ground and flowing into my basement,” said Howard Meyerberg.
Meyerberg lives in a century old home just steps from the Kankakee River in Momence, and like his neighbors, he's keeping a wary eye on all the ice.
"If we end up with an ice jam or above 40 degree temperatures, this is going to be Niagara Falls,” he said.
Meyerberg says the water started trickling into his basement last weekend when the river suddenly rose several feet, caused by plunging temperatures forming ice dams downriver.
Last weekend, authorities closed a road on the north side of the river in Momence. Flooding was also reported in other areas along the Kankakee River.
Giant slabs and shards of ice are now frozen into place by the subzero cold and could cause even bigger problems if the temperatures soar this weekend.
"With this seriously cold, cold weather we're having, this is going to go thick quick, and by Sunday they said 40 degree temperatures. This is when it will break up, and I hope to God it doesn't jam at the bridge because that water will come up to where we're standing,” Meyerberg said.