Chris Parades, Des Plaines resident shovels mud and debris from his cousins garage along the swollen Des Plains River. Many homes, businesses and roads were damaged and compromised due to severe flash flooding on April 18 and over 7 inches of rain fell in parts of northwest and central Illinois. FEMA in conjunction with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is conducting Preliminary Damage Assessments to determine whether a disaster declaration is needed for these parts of Illinois. Bryan Adams/ FEMA Corps.