Durbin: Disaster Declaration for Nine Illinois Counties Will Help Severe Storm Recovery

Press Release

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the decision by President Obama to declare nine Illinois counties - Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, and Union - federal disaster areas. The President's disaster declaration triggers the release of federal funds to help people and municipalities recover from severe winter storms beginning on January 26, 2009, and continuing through January 28, 2009. The declaration also left open the possibility that additional designations may be made after further evaluation.

"Although the power is back on, and the storms are long gone, residents and business owners are still facing a mountain of challenges. This Presidential disaster declaration will now start the process of matching needs with money," said Durbin. "There is a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. I am hopeful that the federal restoration efforts will begin dealing with the most seriously affected residents first."

All nine counties are designated for Public Assistance funding which provides assistance to local and state governments for extraordinary costs for response and recovery to the disaster. This can include emergency work, debris removal from public roads and repair and replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities or infrastructure. Additionally, all Illinois counties have been designated for Hazard Mitigation Assistance areas which include funding for measures designed to reduce future losses to public and private property.

On February 13, Durbin and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation asked President Obama to declare nine Illinois counties federal disaster areas after severe winter storms hit the area in January. The affected counties included: Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline and Union.

Other members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation who have asked that additional counties be made eligible for federal assistance include: Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) and Representatives Jerry Costello (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Debbie Halverson (D-IL), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Tim Johnson (R-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Aaron Schock (R-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL).

Source