Documentation Will Support Request for Federal Assistance
MEREDOSIA - Governor Pat Quinn today asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with damage assessments in several Illinois counties devastated by flooding and severe storms. The assessments, which will begin on April 29, will provide the documentation necessary to support a request for federal assistance.
"We have seen some of the worst flooding damage to neighborhoods and homes across our state in Illinois history," Governor Quinn said. "The state will continue to take every step to secure assistance from the federal government that will help our communities recover."
Since Thursday, Governor Quinn has surveyed damage on the ground and from the air and met with local officials in some of the hardest hit communities, including Elmhurst, Des Plaines, River Forest, Bellwood, Riverside, Moline, Quincy, Bartonville, North Aurora, Marseilles, Ottawa, North Utica and Morris.
Personnel from FEMA, IEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and local emergency management agencies will begin assessing damage to homes and businesses in Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties on April 29. The teams will move to other affected counties as floodwaters recede so they are able to accurately assess the damage. Governor Quinn has declared a total of 44 counties state disaster areas.
Counties included in the state disaster declaration are Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Tazewell, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.
The state disaster declaration makes available a wide variety of state resources that can help affected communities respond and recover from flooding. It came after assessments by emergency officials and the governor, and begins the process of securing federal relief.
As of today, the state has fulfilled more than 80 requests for assistance from counties including:
Department of Transportation
- More than 240 IDOT personnel and 153 trucks and equipment have been deployed to deliver sandbags, plastic, pumps, hoses, trucks and drivers to communities.
- Conducting flyovers of flooded areas for situational awareness.
- Providing guidance to communities on pumping equipment needs.
Department of Corrections
- Inmate crews are assisting with sandbagging efforts in several communities.
- Over 660 inmates have worked around the clock to fill more than 80,000 sandbags since Friday.
Department of Natural Resources
- DNR boats and conservation police officers have assisted with home and medical evacuations, transportation, river rescues, missing person searches and other flood-related responses.
Illinois Emergency Management Agency
- Provided 40 StarCom radios to the Algonquin Police Department for emergency communications.
- Deployed liaison teams to Quincy and Milan to coordinate response efforts along the Mississippi River.
- Coordinating requests for assistance from affected counties with state resources.
Illinois National Guard
- UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and two crew members assisted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with overflight of the Des Plaines and Little Calumet Rivers to survey integrity of flood control systems and infrastructure.
Illinois State Police
- Continue to assist motorists and local public safety agencies with flood-related issues.
Department of Public Health
- Provided information on tetanus shots to local public health departments, hospitals and medical offices.
- Monitoring situations at nursing homes and long-term care facilities affected by flooding.
Department of Central Management Services
- Procured work gloves for inmate crews assisting with sandbagging.
Governor Quinn activated the State Incident Response Center on Thursday to coordinate the deployment of state personnel and assets to assist local governments in the affected areas. The state's flood response is coordinated by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
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