Firefighters Rescue Elderly Couple From Flooded Antioch Home

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Firefighters in Antioch, Illinois rescued an elderly couple from their home that had become surrounded by floodwaters due to heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers and lakes in Lake and McHenry counties. The firefighters used a stair chair to lift the couple above the water and carry them to dry land.

Why it matters

The flooding caused by the heavy rainfall has impacted numerous roads, yards, structures, and parkland in the region, with the Fox River and Des Plaines River reaching major flood stages. This highlights the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events that can threaten vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, and require coordinated emergency response efforts.

The details

Firefighters from the Antioch Fire Department responded to a call from an elderly couple who were unable to leave their home due to the floodwaters surrounding it. The firefighters geared up in water rescue suits and initially tried to use a boat to reach the couple, but accessibility issues with the fences around the home prevented that. They ultimately used a stair chair to lift the couple above the water and carry them to dry land.

• On Saturday, firefighters received the call about the elderly couple trapped in their Antioch home.
• River gauges along the Fox River Chain of Lakes indicated slowly rising water levels due to the heavy rainfall earlier in the week.
• Water levels may reach major flood stage by the middle of next week and remain above flood stage potentially for several weeks.

What’s next

The National Weather Service has said that the flooding may reach levels similar to past major flood events in the region, and officials are encouraging residents to monitor the rapidly changing conditions and take appropriate actions, including relocation if water approaches or enters their property.