A Lakefront Flood and Storm Emergency Response Plan for Chicago

One of the City of Chicago's greatest assets is the nearly 30 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the majority of which is publicly-owned and maintained by the Chicago Park District. During the summer of 1997, while a 10-year reconstruction program for the shoreline was still on the drawing boards, high water levels coupled with the approaching winter storm season presented a significant threat of damage to lakefront infrastructure, which includes the heavily traveled Lake Shore Drive (US Highway 41), and two of the world's largest water filtration plants. During this period of near-record high Lake Michigan water levels, the City of Chicago's Department of Environment developed and implemented a Flood and Storm Emergency Response Plan. Key components of the Plan included identification and prioritization of at-risk facilities, design of mitigation measures, preparedness, procurement of additional flood-fighting equipment, and designation of available resources for response and recovery. Instrumental to the success of the Plan was the forging of a public/private partnership and interagency cooperation between Local and Federal officials. The development of a tiered response system allows for the City to utilize internal personnel to the extent that they are available, without compromising their ability to respond to other emergencies, and to draw on private sector resources in the event that municipal resources are insufficient. Since 1997 the plan has been activated several times, with the result that disruption and damage to Lake Shore Drive and other City infrastructure has been reduced.