Major damages in northern Illinois from a record-setting rainstorm in 2010

A record-setting July rainstorm fell in 24 hours in northern Illinois. Amounts exceeded 10 inches in northwest Illinois (rural) and northeastern Illinois (urban). Many rain amounts that fell in 3-, 6-, and 24-hour periods exceeded totals expected to occur only once in 100 years. Regional rivers quickly reached levels 3 to 10 feet above flood stages. Regional flooding affected 30,000 homes in the Chicago area, damaged crops and dairy farming, and damaged railroads and halted movement of trucks and trains in both areas. Property damages totaled $184 million, much higher than the state’s average flood loss of $79 million. FEMA ultimately awarded $320 million in aid, the largest amount ever awarded Illinois for any past storm disasters. The July storm losses andcosts totaled $620 million.