On April 13, 1992, water from the Chicago River poured into a breach in the 63 mile freight tunnel system that crisscrosses underneath the heart of the City of Chicago. That Monday morning the Chicago River started pouring into the tunnel system through bridge pilings driven into the tunnel near the Kinzie Street Bridge. A 20 foot wide hole broke into the roof of a tunnel 20 feet below the river bed and 50 feet below street level. More than 200 million gallons of water quickly began flooding the basements and electrical controls of over 300 buildings throughout the downtown area. An estimated 1.3 million people were evacuated from Chicago’s loop that morning. Chicago came to a standstill- the financial markets, the commodities markets, the banks and all major businesses were closed. ...
OK, I was off on the dates. I am getting old faster than I thought!