Water seeped into three Hinsdale-owned buildings during the severe storm that struck Tuesday, July 28, adding flood damage to a building already slated for a $3.1 million mechanical overhaul.
The Memorial Building at 19 E. Chicago Ave., the public works garage, and portions of the police station all took on water during the storm, which dumped nearly 3 inches of rain and brought wind speeds reported nearby of 70 mph, The Hinsdalean reported. Hail cracked windshields on police vehicles. No injuries were reported.
The Public Services Department fielded approximately 60 storm-related calls that day, and more than 1,200 Hinsdale ComEd customers lost power out of 450,000-plus outages regionwide, according to The Hinsdalean. Power lines went down in nine locations across town, the Village of Hinsdale confirmed on Instagram the evening of the storm.
Village personnel sheltered in place during the worst of the weather, then deployed all available police, fire, and public services staff once conditions were safe. By Wednesday, July 29, two woodchippers were running simultaneously to clear downed trees blocking streets, one on the north side and one on the south.
The water intrusion at the Memorial Building comes at a particularly awkward moment. The 1927 landmark's HVAC system dates to 1965 and was flagged as critically deteriorated in a 2024 space plan analysis. Public Services Director George Peluso told the Village Board in November 2025 that continued repairs were no longer practical and warned of "a potential catastrophic failure that could leave the building without heating or cooling." The Village issued a bid advertisement in July for the HVAC replacement, with bids due Tuesday, August 4, and construction set to begin March 22, 2027. The full project is estimated at $3.1 million over four fiscal years.
Whether the storm damage will add to that tab remains unclear. The Village has not published a cost estimate or repair timeline for the water intrusion at any of the three buildings.
Neighbors wade in at Fuller and Elm
While village crews mobilized, residents near Fuller and Elm streets stepped in themselves.
Amanda Larry, who lives at the intersection, told The Hinsdalean that neighbors grabbed shovels, brooms, and whatever they could find and waded waist-deep into floodwater to unclog storm drains. One wore fishing waders. They spent more than an hour moving drain to drain, reaching in by hand to pull out trash and tree debris that kept re-clogging the inlets.
"They saved our home and others from flooding," Larry wrote in an email to The Hinsdalean published Thursday, July 30.
One neighbor told Larry he had not seen flooding that bad in 30 years. Other residents helped push a stalled car to safety and checked on drivers who had to pull over.
The Hinsdale Food Pantry also sustained hail damage, according to Patch.
Hinsdale Government Week Ahead
Tuesday, August 4 — Bids due for Memorial Building HVAC replacement project (Phase 1). Submissions accepted until 10 a.m. at Village Hall.
Tuesday, August 11 — Village Board meeting. No agenda posted yet, but trustees may be asked about storm repair costs to municipal buildings. Residents can contact the Village Manager's office at 630-789-7000 for updates on storm damage assessments and to inquire about public comment.
