Flooding in Chicago Worsens as Climate Change Intensifies

Outdated infrastructure and lack of investment in vulnerable communities leave residents at risk of repeated flooding and health hazards.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:35am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, depicting a vast, stormy sky with heavy rain obscuring the horizon. In the foreground, the outlines of buildings and infrastructure are barely visible, dwarfed by the overwhelming scale of the natural elements.As climate change fuels more intense storms, Chicago's outdated sewer system struggles to keep up, leaving vulnerable communities to face repeated flooding and public health hazards.Chicago Today

Chicago's sewer system, designed decades ago, is struggling to handle the increasing frequency and intensity of heavy rainstorms fueled by climate change. Flooding has caused billions in damage to homes and businesses, with predominantly Black and Latino communities bearing the brunt of the crisis. Despite warnings from scientists and calls for action, the city has been slow to implement solutions like green infrastructure and underground storage to mitigate the flooding threat.

Why it matters

Flooding in Chicago is not just an inconvenience, but a serious public health issue. Repeated flooding events have led to widespread mold and water damage, forcing residents out of their homes and causing respiratory problems. The problem disproportionately impacts marginalized communities that have historically received less investment in infrastructure and flood mitigation efforts.

The details

Chicago's sewer system was designed to handle just 2 inches of rain in 24 hours, but climate change has increased the likelihood of storms that can drop over 8.5 inches in the same timeframe. This has overwhelmed the city's sewer network, including the Deep Tunnel project, leading to sewage backups and flooding in homes and businesses. Damage estimates have skyrocketed to billions of dollars in the past 20 years, with the 2023 storm alone flooding tens of thousands of homes on the West and South Sides.

  • In 2025, University of Illinois researchers issued a bulletin warning that intense rain made worse by climate change would get significantly more severe in the next 25 years.
  • In the summer of 2023, a storm dumped 8 to 9 inches of rain over the West Side, South Side, and nearby suburbs, flooding tens of thousands of homes and forcing hundreds to seek shelter.

The players

Trent Ford

Illinois state climatologist who consulted on the 2025 memo warning that the amount of rain falling in 24 hours during storms could grow by another inch by 2050.

Clabe Johnson

A resident of Chicago's Austin neighborhood whose apartment was inundated with 4 feet of water during the 2023 flooding, leading to respiratory problems for his brother due to lingering mold.

Princess Shaw

A community advocate in North Lawndale who has been pushing for speedy government assistance to West Side flood survivors still waiting for help with construction and mold removal three years after the 2023 storm.

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago, who blamed the slow disbursement of federal disaster recovery funds on bureaucratic procedures and acknowledged the need for infrastructure improvements to reduce flooding.

Cheryl Watson

A longtime resident of the Chatham neighborhood, which has faced decades of flooding issues due to its low-lying location and lack of investment in mitigation efforts.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Without changes, we're going to see an increase in [disaster] impacts.”

— Trent Ford, Illinois state climatologist

“I almost lost my brother. Nobody explained the severity. What about our seniors? What about our disabled people in this community who have no voice?”

— Clabe Johnson, Resident

“People are traumatized every time it rains.”

— Princess Shaw, Community advocate

“These are my neighbors, and as a fellow West Sider, I share their frustration with this process. The infrastructure deficiencies which exacerbated the effects of this storm reflect decades of systemic underinvestment in West Side communities.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

“It's always the Black communities, because we have the least representation. Everybody leaves us hanging.”

— Cheryl Watson, Resident

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.