IL

Storm restoration across McHenry County

McHenry County sits in the Chicago metro's northwest collar, where homes face a recurring combination of large hail (1-2+ inch stones, 10-15 severe hail days annually across northern Illinois), straight-line thunderstorm winds regularly exceeding 70 mph, and derecho events - the August 2020 derecho spawned an EF-1 tornado near Marengo and the July 2024 derecho produced tornadoes across the broader region. The Fox River and its tributaries create significant flash flood and riverine flood risk, particularly in Algonquin and McHenry, with the Fox River reaching major flood stage repeatedly in recent years including April 2026 when multi-agency disaster recovery centers were opened. Winters bring ice storm and heavy snow events that cause ice dams, roof load stress, and gutter damage, with the county included in at least one federal FEMA disaster declaration for a severe winter storm. Storm restoration work in the county centers on roof and siding hail damage, wind-damaged trees and structures, sewer and basement flooding, and post-ice-dam interior water intrusion.