Village of Cary declares a state of emergency after damaging storms

The severe storms that swept across the Chicago area over the weekend caused significant disruption and damage. As reports surfaced on August 17, 2025, the storms began late Saturday and continued into early Sunday, leading to heavy rainfall, lightning, and strong winds across numerous suburbs, including Cary and Mount Prospect. In Cary, the aftermath resulted in the village declaring a state of emergency due to the impactful damage and extensive power outages. Firefighters from the Cary Fire Protection District responded to over 100 storm-related incidents, addressing downed power lines, fallen trees, and even a natural gas leak caused by the storm. The damages were particularly severe in downtown Cary where infrastructure was compromised. Meanwhile, in Mount Prospect, the intense winds notably ripped the roof off an apartment complex, damaging 60 out of 75 residential units and scattering debris across the area, affecting parked vehicles and common grounds. Public Works crews announced their intention to begin systematically surveying the damage on Monday morning, August 18, as they cleared debris from the streets. In the wake of the storms, the local Red Cross and human services were activated to assist residents, most of whom were displaced due to the destruction caused by the powerful weather. ComEd reported that they were working to restore power for nearly 8,000 customers affected by the outages that followed the storms. In some neighborhoods, residents faced flooded basements, with one local man noting it was the second flooding incident he encountered this summer, prompting calls for better management of the sewer systems. As the area continued to recover, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for August 18, with warnings for Boone, Cook, De Kalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Lake, McHenry, Will, and Winnebago counties until 6 p.m. Alongside the potential for tornadoes, reports indicated the possibility of quarter-size hail. Wind gusts could reach up to 70 miles per hour, leading to renewed concerns for further damage. In light of the storm activity, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District alerted residents to conserve water to alleviate the pressure on the sewer systems, as local reservoirs approached capacity. The approaching storm systems raised anxiety in an already beleaguered community, with many residents worrying about the severity of the impending weather.