Severe Storms Cause Significant Flooding and Damage in Aurora

Lifelong Aurora resident Joanna Weiland found herself in shock as she stood in her basement early Friday morning, her slippers soaked with floodwater rising past her ankles. By Tuesday, her lawn was covered with bags filled with damaged drywall, family antiques, and Christmas decorations. Weiland expressed concern over whether her insurance would cover the flood damage, unsure of what to do with the damage.

Weiland was among many residents in Aurora, especially in the 4th and 6th Wards, who experienced basement flooding, tree damage, and power outages from Friday to Saturday morning. The damage varied in severity, according to Alderman Jonathan Nunez of the 4th Ward. Nunez, whose basement also flooded, noted the struggle many residents faced in trying to prevent further water damage. “It’s disheartening when you spend hours trying to save your belongings,” he remarked. “Many of us had to discard items that couldn’t be saved.”

The Aurora area endured eight inches of rain over 48 hours due to multiple storms on Thursday and Friday, stated Jon Zaghloul, Aurora’s director of communications. Cleanup efforts were ongoing as of Tuesday. Alderman Mike Saville of the 6th Ward reported some residents were without power for up to three days. Fallen trees blocked roads, including Roberts Street, and even damaged homes. “It took everyone by surprise,” Saville said.

Alderman Carl Franco of the 5th Ward acknowledged receiving calls from worried residents about flooding. He reassured them that flood mitigation measures had been in place since major flooding incidents, like the one in 1996. The Fox Valley Park District reported some trails and facilities closed due to flooding, with Gilman Trail still closed between Terry and Edgelawn avenues by Tuesday afternoon, as mentioned by Tim Wagner, public relations strategist for the Park District.

A company, A1 Landscaping and Maintenance, started clearing fallen trees from yards along Jericho Road, with efforts witnessed on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Weiland expressed worries that her homeowner’s insurance would not cover all the flood damage to her house and belongings. She faced significant repair needs, including removing damaged drywall and dealing with a broken water heater. She mentioned damaged possessions like a treadmill, a rowing machine, and family furniture, remaining unsure of the replacement costs. “I’ve taken pictures of all the damage,” she shared. “I now have holes in my basement walls due to water behind them.”

The city of Aurora, along with Kane County, urged residents to report uninsured damages via storm damage self-assessment surveys. The Kane County survey is accessible through their official website and aims to help evaluate storm damage and determine eligibility for disaster assistance. Theodore Van De Sampel, Aurora’s Emergency Management Coordinator, confirmed responses to Aurora’s survey hosted online but noted some reports of public property damage.

Residents were encouraged to use the myAurora 311 app to report public property damages, while private property issues should be submitted through the EMA survey. The app is downloadable from the App Store, Google Play, and the website myaurora311.com, as highlighted in a city Facebook post.

Alderman Nunez plans to propose reopening the Ward 4 Residential and Businesses Storm Damage Grant Program to aid residents with uninsured storm damage costs. The grant program previously assisted with similar costs following a storm in mid-August 2025.

During power outages, residents turned to local businesses like Society 57 in downtown Aurora as support centers. “Local businesses provided places of safety,” Alderman Saville noted. Some residents without power managed by staying with family or retreating to their cars with air conditioning.

With water levels gradually lowering, the Fox Valley Park District aims to reopen Gilman Trail by week’s end, despite concerns about expected rain. Mayor John Laesch acknowledged the Park District’s help with tree removal and other storm recovery efforts, particularly on Aurora’s West Side.