Joanna Weiland, a lifelong Aurora resident, faced unexpected flooding in her basement early Friday morning. By Tuesday, she had already removed bags of damaged drywall, family heirlooms, and Christmas decorations from her home. Weiland expressed concern that her insurance might not cover the flood damage.
Aurora residents, particularly those in the 4th and 6th Wards, experienced significant basement flooding, tree damage, and power outages during the storms on Friday and Saturday. Some basements flooded twice, including that of Ald. Jonathan Nunez, who noted the challenge of keeping water at bay. “It’s disheartening when you spend hours trying to save what’s valuable,” he remarked.
The storms brought eight inches of rain over 48 hours, according to Jon Zaghloul, director of communications for the city. Cleanup efforts were still ongoing as of Tuesday. Some residents endured power outages lasting up to three days, and fallen trees obstructed roads like Roberts Street. Ald. Mike Saville from the 6th Ward described the situation as an unexpected mess.
Ald. Carl Franco, representing the 5th Ward, received calls from residents concerned about flooding. Many recalled the major flooding incident in 1996. However, Franco assured them that flood mitigation measures had been established over the years. The Fox Valley Park District also faced closures of some trails and facilities due to flooding. As of Tuesday, the Gilman Trail remained off-limits between Terry and Edgelawn Avenues, per Tim Wagner, a public relations strategist for the district.
In one instance, A1 Landscaping and Maintenance worked on removing a fallen tree along Jericho Road. Various staff were busy clearing storm damage in multiple yards on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
Following the storms, Weiland expressed concerns about insurance coverage for her flood-damaged property. She had to remove several damaged items, including a treadmill and antique furniture, and was unsure of the total replacement cost. “I’ve been photographing everything,” she said, worried about the cost of the damage.
Both the city of Aurora and Kane County urged residents to report uninsured damage through online surveys. The Kane County survey available at www.kanecountyil.gov helps officials evaluate storm damage to decide potential eligibility for disaster assistance. Theodore Van De Sampel, the Emergency Management Coordinator for Aurora, noted some responses included damages to public property. He encouraged using the myAurora 311 app and EMA surveys to report public and private property damage, respectively.
Nunez plans to request reopening the Ward 4 Residential and Businesses Storm Damage Grant Program to assist residents with uninsured costs. This program previously aided those affected by a storm in August 2025.
Some residents struggled without power for several days. Local businesses, such as Society 57 in downtown Aurora, provided support by offering a safe and comfortable space. Saville noted that residents stayed with family or turned to air-conditioned cars to keep cool during this time.
The Fox Valley Park District aims to reopen the Gilman Trail by week’s end, though more rain is expected shortly. As of Tuesday, water levels had receded slightly but remained ankle-deep. Aurora Mayor John Laesch acknowledged the park district’s assistance in removing trees and clearing storm damage, particularly on the West Side of Aurora.
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