Maine Township Highway Crew Joins Mutual Aid Effort to Clear Storm Debris in South Suburbs
Following the severe storms that struck southern Cook County on August 11, 2026, bringing damaging winds, tornadoes, flooding, and widespread tree damage, public works departments across the region coordinated through the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network (IPWMAN) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) for a large-scale debris removal operation known as “Operation Pickup Sticks.”
Responding communities faced extensive debris that overwhelmed local resources. The operation covers 11 cleanup sites and 3 dump sites. In total, crews have hauled 2,951 loads totaling 42,378 cubic yards of debris, and operations continue.
Maine Township Highway Department answered the call for help and did its part by sending two tandem-axle dump trucks and crew for four days. Those trucks completed 73 loads and moved 1,022 cubic yards of debris, which is roughly equivalent to clearing a large neighborhood’s worth of downed trees and branches.
“When a community is hit by a disaster, neighboring communities have a responsibility to step up and help however they can. The Maine Township Highway Department was proud to contribute crews and equipment to Operation Pickup Sticks, helping clear debris and begin the recovery process,” said Highway Commissioner Ed Beauvais.
IPWMAN’s statewide mutual-aid system allows public works agencies to share equipment and personnel during disasters with no cost to the requesting communities for the first five days. Cook County’s broader recovery efforts, including an $8 million investment announced earlier in October to finish remaining debris removal, worked in parallel with these mutual-aid operations.