June 11, 2026
Dear Neighbor,
Yesterday's storms had a significant impact across the 46th Ward and throughout Chicago. Crews are currently responding to thousands of storm-related service requests across the city, including more than 4,000 tree emergencies, hundreds of traffic signal outages, and widespread reports of downed wires and flooding.notify
Unfortunately, the threat of severe weather is not over. The National Weather Service has issued an alert that there is a threat of strong tornadoes across Chicago and surrounding suburbs between 4-9pm today, Thursday, June 11th. It is important to be prepared to take precautions and shelter to avoid the impacts of these conditions. As a reminder, outdoor warning sirens are intended for people who are outdoors and should not be relied upon as the only source of emergency information.
Chicagoβs Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is monitoring weather conditions with the National Weather Service in Chicago and coordinating efforts with Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Department of Streets and Sanitation, Department of Water Management (DWM), and utility partners to respond to the severe weather.
Please stay informed, heed warnings from officials, and be prepared to seek shelter if conditions worsen. I encourage you to enable emergency notifications your phone or device and to sign up for alerts through OEMC, ComEd, and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to receive updates about severe weather, power outages, emergency notifications, and potential transit service disruptions.
You can also sign up for TEXT alerts of lakefront notices, issues affecting businesses or events:
CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT βCHILAKEβ to 7-8-0-1-5
CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT βCHIBIZβ to 6-7-2-8-3
My office is also actively monitoring conditions and remains in communication with City departments. If you encounter storm-related issues such as downed trees, blocked roadways, flooding, damaged infrastructure, or traffic signal outages, please report them to 311.
To avoid long wait times, download and use the CHI311 app or submit requests online:
For uprooted trees or large fallen tree branches, report a Tree Emergency to 311.
For smaller piles of branches, submit a Tree Debris request to 311.
If you encounter a downed power line, stay far away from the area and immediately contact 911 and ComEdβs emergency line at emergency line at 800-EDISON-1. Never assume a downed wire is safe.
For water in the street, wait 24 hours after the rainfall ceases. If there is still water on the street, submit a Water on the Street request to 311.
If water is leaking into your basement, submit a Water in Basement request to 311.
To notify my office of an urgent service request, you can email us at info@46thward.com. Please include the service request number (SR#), photos, and location, as these details greatly assist us in tracking or reporting issues with respective City departments.
I am grateful for the many City workers, first responders, and utility crews working around the clock to keep our neighborhoods safe. As crews continue responding to storm damage across Chicago, neighbors should expect longer-than-normal response times, particularly for fallen trees and large branches.
Thank you for your patience as City departments work through a high volume of requests. Most importantly, please stay safe and check on your neighbors, especially older adults, individuals with disabilities, and anyone who may need additional assistance during severe weather.
Yours in Service,
Alderwoman Angela Clay
