In the wake of heavy rains, high wins and rising floodwaters, the Fox River is at or near flood stage and the Chain O’ Lakes has been closed.

McHenry and Kane counties got about 1 to 1¾ inches of rain, Zachary Yack, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said. The NWS got a report of 63 mph wind gusts in Hebron and 76 mph wind gusts in Herbert.

[ Latest on flooding: Battling high waters along the Fox ]

But rivers in the area are expected to continue to rise, Yack said. The Fox is expected to crest the middle of next week. But the weather service is waiting on an updated forecast, so “it may change slightly,” Yack said.

[ Photos: Flooding on the Fox River ]

The NWS on Saturday issued a flood warning for parts of Kane and McHenry counties along the Fox River after water levels reached 11.18 feet.

The Fox Waterway Agency said Saturday afternoon that because of Friday’s rain and more rain in from Wisconsin, “the Chain O’Lakes and Fox River system is transitioning from a moderate to a major flood event. This is projected to be greater than the 2017 event.”

A clarification sent later Saturday said “The lower Fox River is expected to surpass 2017 Flood levels. The Chain is currently anticipated to reach 7.3 [feet] this week based on the current forecast according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Chain hit a high of 8.03 [feet] in 2017.”

An email Saturday from Kristine Pearson, field support coordinator for the agency, said the lakes have been closed based on a recommendation from the IDNR.

The Fox Waterway Agency said residents, property owners and boaters should take immediate precautions, including to:

● Secure your property and implement flood protection measures, including sandbagging where necessary.

● Secure all vessels currently in the water to prevent damage or displacement.

● Move valuables and equipment to higher ground if possible.

● Contact your local municipality for sandbag availability and additional flood response resources.

Despite portions of McHenry County falling under a tornado warning at varying points in the evening Friday, not much storm damage was reported in the county.

Yack said there was no tornado damage in McHenry and Kane counties “as far as we know.”

Crews were in the Roscoe area Saturday, in Winnebago County, to assess potential tornado damage, while a second crew was headed to Ford County to check for tornado damage there, Yack said.

David Christensen, the director of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency, said there wasn’t much wind damage, which was good.

He said there was some roadway flooding, including in Harvard and Lake in the Hills, but most of it has drained off.

But flooding is the primary concern in the county, especially along the Fox River.

Christensen said New Munster, Wisconsin, farther up the Fox, is worrisome because it is at 14.5 feet and heading toward 15 feet. Fourteen feet is major flood stage there. And what happens in New Munster usually happens in McHenry County three to four days later, Christensen said.

In Algonquin, officials said Saturday the river is at 11.18 feet, “which will cause moderate flooding in the floodplain.”

Officials said the river is expected to crest at 11.8 feet at 7 a.m. Wednesday, and “residents near the Fox River are encouraged to stay informed and take any precautionary measures they feel are appropriate for their property,” according to a village news release.

Christiansen said McHenry County has received 333% of normal rain totals in April so far, which can feed into the river.

EMA is in “full-blown response,” Christensen said, and is working with townships and municipalities to provide them with additional resources than what they might have.

That includes sandbags, although “sand is never an issue” to find in the county.

In the 2017 floods, the county used 750,000 sandbags, Christensen said. But sandbags only work if they’re wrapped in plastic.

He added people whose wells get covered with floodwater should not use the well water and have the well tested after floodwaters recede. He said the McHenry County Department of Health can help with that.

Private sewage disposal systems also won’t work correctly if flooded, Christensen said.

In Algonquin, officials said sandbags will be available starting late Saturday afternoon or early Saturday evening in various places in Algonquin, which include:

• Beach Drive at Rattray Drive
• Center Street at La Fox River Drive
• Filip Road
• La Fox River Drive at Cornish Park
• Oceola Drive at Hubbard Street

Residents are asked to take only what they need so all residents can access supplies.

Officials have closed Cornish Park and asked residents to avoid all areas immediately adjacent to the river.

“At this time, the village is not recommending evacuation, but residents are encouraged to monitor the rapidly changing conditions and take appropriate actions, including possible relocation, should water approach or enter their property.” according to the release.

In Nunda Township, along the river, Supervisor Mike Shorten said volunteers are making sandbags and trucks are getting them to the river as quickly as they can.

A lot of areas grappling with flooding are those that also dealt with it in 2013 and 2017, Shorten said. He said the road district is leading operations and “they’re doing a great job.”

There’s been trucks from places like Hoffman Estates and Crystal Lake, and the sheriff’s office has also brought inmates from the McHenry County Jail to help, Shorten said.

Shorten said the parking lot is full of trucks, and it is an “all hands on deck situation.”

Highway Commissioner Rob Parrish said volunteers are making more than 3,000 bags an hour and said about 1:15 p.m. that number was expected to hit 30,000 in the next hour.

He said Holiday Hills, Oakhurst subdivision and Bayview Beach were among the hardest hit areas in the township.

“That rain last night did not help,” Parrish said. He said a lot of people might not know about flooding with Saturday’s nice weather. He said people might be out shopping while Nunda Township residents are fighting to save their infrastructure.

Parrish said Saturday an updated forecast indicated the river will go to 8 feet, a foot higher than the seven feet that was predicted earlier.

“A lot of places that were safe” at 7 feet will need to keep building, Parrish said.

The township also needs more volunteers to help pack sandbags at the highway department, especially Sunday.

“Volunteers is what we need,” Parrish said.

In McHenry Township, Adam Vick, an operations manager, said “we’re chugging along.”

The township has set up six make-your-own-sandbag stations throughout the area, with bags and supplies for people.

The township also has been making sandbags, but doesn’t have the manpower to make it a 24/7 operation, Vick said.

The Pistakee Highlands area, which is prone to flooding, Vick said, has been hit hardest, and flood waters are coming up toward houses. Streets haven’t been closed yet, but Vick said the township has water on pavement signs and barricades on hand.

“We don’t want people driving through floodwaters” and making it worse, Vick said.

In Algonquin Township, Highway Commissioner Danijela Sandberg said in a news release that sand and sandbags are available for self-service at the road district facility.

Sandberg said road district crews are delivering sand to residents in unincorporated areas who can’t transport materials.

Sandberg added crews are monitoring road conditions, addressing drainage concerns and working to maintain safe water flow. Crews also are responding to calls from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office about downed trees and other roadway hazards.

Sandberg said the road district is working with EMA to help residents who might be displaced by the flooding. Residents in need of additional support can call the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

“The safety and well-being of our residents remains our top priority,” Sandberg said. “Our crews are working diligently to respond to conditions as they develop and to provide support where it is needed most.”

Downstream, in Kane County, the Forest Preserve District closed all its boat launches and portions of some of its trails because of the flooding.

Lidia Friederick, who lives on the Fox River near East Dundee, has had to move her chickens to the back room of her chicken house because the front is soggy.

“They’re staying high and dry,” she said.

The chicken house is an old three-room cabin that was converted to the chicken house, she said.

The chickens can nest in the back room and will stay there until the front dries out, Friederick said. The back room has a “false floor” made up of plywood panels and is 2 feet taller than the rest of the chicken house.

It’s the lowest-lying portion of Friederick’s property, and she has lived there for about 25 years.

“My backyard is the river,” Friederick said. “It’s very close.”

She said floodwaters have never gotten into her house. But in 2017, flood waters went up to her deck but not on her deck, which she said was the worst flooding has been.

But, Friederick said “we do this every year” and people in the area there’s some flooding each spring. She said people take it in stride. “It’s common,” she said of flooding, but added it isn’t usually this severe.

Kane County Executive Director Ben Haberthur was not immediately available for comment Saturday.

Kane County Office of Emergency Management Director Scott Buziecki said Saturday Kane County had a couple of trees down, including a report of of a tree down at Fabyan Parkway and Route 31 in Batavia.

He said officials are monitoring flooding and trying to be ahead of it in the next couple of days. He said his office has offered sandbags to municipalities and townships.