Residents worried about Kankakee River flooding after another round of rain

CHICAGO (Fox 32 News) - Residents in Aroma Park near Kankakee are watching and waiting.

They live right where two rivers meet and the non-stop rains this week has them worried about flooding.

When your home is on the river and the river rises, there's just one thing you can do.

“Just riding it out. Riding it out. That's all we can do. Praying for mother nature to give us a break,” said Aroma Park resident Ron Fox.

A lot of people are praying for dry skies in Aroma Park, which lies at the confluence of the swollen Kankakee and Iroquois Rivers.

"When it starts pouring, it comes down and it builds up,” said Richard Theis.

Theis moved his boat and dock out of the river, which is now creeping into his backyard.

“It is what it is. You can't change what happens. You just gotta be a little on your toes,” Theis said.

The Kankakee River is moving very fast and the water is about as high as it can get without causing serious flooding.

The county has closed a small number of low lying roads, including Eagle Island Road east of Lincoln park.

Sheriff Mike Downey says the good news is there have been no reports of basement flooding or property damage.

"We are talking local elected officials of those municipalities, making sure they have what they need from our office,” Downey said.

The sheriff has instructed prisoners at the county jail to fill sand bags, which are left for the taking by anyone who needs them.

The sheriff says flooding on the Kankakee has become more frequent in recent years as the river is becoming more shallow because of sand being carried downstream. It's a problem that may soon be addressed by the Army Corps of Engineers.