On the night of July 11–12, 2017, five to eight inches of rain fell on Highland Park in under a day — and the Skokie River overflowed. More than 40 streets citywide were rendered impassable, residents could not reach their homes, and many evacuated. On July 14, the mayor formally requested flood-recovery assistance; a Lake County official said 2,100 structures were submerged countywide. The Army Corps' 2019 PAS-22 study later confirmed why this city floods hardest: of every community on the Skokie River, modeling found the most severe estimated flood damages in Highland Park.
The risk is structural. Highland Park sits in three drainage basins: the Lake Michigan basin (the eastern third, draining through 10 ravines to the lake), the Skokie River basin (the central and largest, with 32 outfalls), and the Middle Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River basin (11 outfalls). Storm sewers built before 1989 were designed to handle only a 2-year storm — the city raised the standard to the 10-year storm in 1989 and set a goal of upgrading everything, but many older neighborhoods are still served by pipes designed for storms that now arrive regularly. On June 15, 2019, just 1 to 1.5 inches of rain in under an hour triggered an NWS flood advisory for street flooding. It doesn't take a disaster here.
Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois's IICRC-trained technicians know Highland Park's basins, its river, and its pipes. Call (773) 200-3228 anytime, day or night.
Common causes of water damage in Highland Park
- Skokie River flooding. The river bisects the city, and the 2017 event — 5 to 8 inches overnight, river overflow, 40+ impassable streets — is the benchmark. ACOE modeling found Highland Park suffers the most severe estimated flood damages of any Skokie River community.
- Undersized legacy storm sewers. Pre-1989 pipes were designed for only 2-year storms; the city's 188 miles of storm sewers include older neighborhoods whose pipes are outmatched by modern rainfall. The June 2019 event — street flooding from 1 to 1.5 inches in under an hour — shows sub-severe rain is enough.
- Ravine-bluff runoff concentration. Ten ravines drain the eastern third directly to Lake Michigan, and steep ravine bluffs concentrate runoff from streets above onto ravine properties.
- High-value lower levels. With East Highland Park averages around $946K and estates into the millions, finished basements, wine cellars, and lower-level recreation rooms make individual losses severe.
- Winter freeze on aging infrastructure. Pre-1989 storm and water infrastructure and century-old pipe stock, combined with 22+ regional freeze-thaw cycles in early 2025, drive burst-pipe claims — hitting older estates with long service lines, coach houses, and crawl-space plumbing hardest.
Our Highland Park water damage services
Water extraction:
Truck-mounted and portable extractors for river overbank flooding, ravine runoff, and sewer surcharge — with care for historic and high-value interiors.
Structural drying and dehumidification:
Industrial air movers and low-grain dehumidifiers, verified with moisture meters — critical for wine cellars, finished lower levels, and original woodwork.
Mold remediation:
In historic homes, porous original materials grow mold within days of a flood. We contain, remove, and treat to IICRC standards.
Sewage cleanup:
Sewer surcharge in legacy systems is Category 3 water. We set full containment, disinfect everything affected, remove what can't be saved — and log the source pathway for your claim file.
Storm response:
From Skokie River rises to one-inch flash floods, we stabilize, extract, dry, and coordinate repairs.
Areas we serve in Highland Park
We cover the whole city — ZIP 60035 — including Ravinia (around the Ravinia Festival grounds and Roger Williams Avenue corridor), East Highland Park (east of Green Bay Road, lakefront estates), Ravinia Dells and Ravinia Highlands, and the Fort Sheridan area (the former military base, a National Register historic district of Holabird & Roche–designed buildings). Our crews run 24/7 from Rosewood Beach and Park Avenue Beach to the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve and downtown Central Avenue and Port Clinton Square.
How We Restore Water-Damaged Homes in Highland Park
- Emergency dispatch, 24/7. Call (773) 200-3228 and a crew heads to 60035. We identify the water category, trace the entry path, and check for hazards.
- Extraction and damage mapping. Standing water is removed with commercial-grade equipment, and we map moisture through wall cavities and subfloors — because high-end losses hide damage.
- Metered drying. Air movers and dehumidifiers run until moisture readings confirm genuinely dry conditions; original woodwork and stone demand patience, not speed.
- Cleaning and disinfection. Contaminated surfaces are treated; salvageable contents and finishes are cleaned and protected.
- Mold prevention or remediation. Antimicrobial treatment where warranted; full containment and remediation where mold has established.
- Repairs and insurance documentation. We coordinate repairs and hand your insurer a complete file: photos, moisture logs, and itemized line items.
Cost factors & insurance claim help
Highland Park losses are scoped individually — never a flat fee — because high-value finishes make every decision expensive. Cost follows water volume, distance traveled, the water category, and how much finished material — drywall, hardwood, millwork, cellar finishes — must be removed and rebuilt. We scope every job with an itemized plan before work proceeds, document source and pathway precisely, and work directly with your insurance company from first call to final walkthrough.
Highland Park water damage FAQs
Is it true that older storm sewers here were designed for only 2-year storms? Yes. Storm sewers built before 1989 were designed to handle only a 2-year storm; in 1989 the city raised the standard to the 10-year storm and set a goal of upgrading all existing sewers. Older neighborhoods are still served by pipes designed for storms that now arrive frequently — which is why 1 to 1.5 inches in under an hour flooded streets on June 15, 2019.
What are Highland Park's three drainage basins, and why do they matter? The city drains to three places: (1) Lake Michigan, with the eastern third draining through 10 ravines directly to the lake; (2) the Skokie River, the central and largest basin, with 32 outfalls; and (3) the Middle Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River, with 11 outfalls. Where your home sits determines whether your risk is river overbank, ravine runoff, or undersized storm sewers.
What is the plan for the former Highland Park Country Club? The Park District purchased the former golf course property along the Skokie River — with the sale conditioned on considering it for regional stormwater management — and around 2019 pursued a FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant to convert part of the site into flood-control storage for the Skokie River corridor.
What did the Army Corps of Engineers PAS-22 study find? The 2019 study modeled the North Branch Chicago River watershed and found the most severe estimated flood damages on the Skokie River occurred in Highland Park — though typical 100-year depths were estimated under one foot. Even shallow flooding across high-value housing produces outsized losses.
Water Damage in Highland Park? We Respond 24/7
Every minute counts. Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois dispatches certified technicians across Highland Park day and night — with insurance documentation handled for you.
Call (773) 200-3228 NowWater Damage Restoration Services in Highland Park
- Our water damage restoration service
- Commercial Water Damage Restoration in Highland Park
- Residential Water Damage Restoration in Highland Park
- Emergency Flood Cleanup in Highland Park
- Storm & Flood Damage Restoration in Highland Park
- Ceiling & Wall Water Damage Repair in Highland Park
- Sewage Backup Cleanup in Highland Park
- Mold Remediation in Highland Park
- Burst Pipe & Leak Water Damage in Highland Park
- Drying & Dehumidification in Highland Park
Nearby Areas We Serve Around Highland Park
Helpful Water Damage Guides
- Water Damage Restoration Cost in Illinois: What Really Drives the Bill
- Mold Remediation Cost: What Actually Drives the Price in Illinois
Official resources: FEMA FloodSmart (flood insurance) and EPA guide to mold and moisture.