Storms Ravage McHenry County: Flooded Roads, Downed Power Lines and Widespread Outages

Late Thursday night a line of intense thunderstorms rolled in from the west, dumping more than two inches of rain in some pockets of McHenry County. By early Friday morning, water had turned several local roads into shallow rivers, and the howling wind knocked a handful of power poles to the ground.

Neighbors in Crystal Lake, Spring Grove and the surrounding townships reported standing water as deep as a foot on County Road 20 and on the bridge over the Fox River. The county’s 911‑center logged over 30 calls about flooded driveways, cars stuck in the water and motorists stranded on the roadways.

At the same time, utility crews from ComEd and the local electric cooperative were scrambling to assess the damage. Downed lines sparked brief outages that flickered across the area, leaving roughly 4,200 customers in the dark. "We’re treating this as a priority," said ComEd spokesperson Lisa Hartman. "Our crews are on site, but safety is our first concern, so we’re proceeding carefully."

Emergency services, including the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and several volunteer fire departments, set up temporary shelters at the Crystal Lake Community Center for those whose homes were at risk of flooding. Police also posted detour signs and posted updates on social media to keep drivers aware of which routes were impassable.

Officials reminded residents to avoid driving through flooded streets—just a few inches of moving water can sweep a vehicle away. They also urged people to check on elderly neighbors, clear gutters, and keep flashlights and batteries handy until power is fully restored.

By late evening, water levels began to recede on most minor roadways, but the county’s public works department warned that some drainage culverts might remain clogged for a day or two. The department plans to send crews out early Saturday morning to clear debris and pump out standing water where possible.

While the storm has moved on, the recovery effort is just getting started. County officials expect that most power will be back on by the end of the weekend, but they ask residents to stay patient and report any lingering hazards.