Governor Quinn Announces Tornado Relief Funding for Hard-Hit Illinois Communities

WASHINGTON – Governor Pat Quinn today announced $11.6 million in state relief to help Illinois local governments recover from the deadly November 2013 tornadoes. The assistance is part of $45 million multi-agency relief package assembled earlier this year at the Governor's direction following the denial of the state's appeal for federal disaster assistance for local governments. Governor Quinn also today signed three new laws in the tornado-damaged communities of Washington and Gifford that will help Illinois communities recover from disasters.

Today’s action is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to ensure the safety of people in every community across Illinois.

“Illinois has faced a record number of natural disasters in recent years, but we are committed to helping each and every community get back on its feet,” Governor Quinn said. “The disaster donation, insurance adjustment and small business recovery laws I’m signing today will help ease the disaster recovery process for communities now and in the future. I thank every first responder and volunteer who donated their time, material and funds to assist with recovery efforts statewide.”

The $11.6 million state relief comes from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). The IDOT funds help communities repair storm-damaged infrastructure. IEMA assistance helps municipalities pay for costs already incurred for items such as debris removal, emergency protective measures and overtime payments. The communities applied for the funds, and to date all eligible requests for assistance have been approved. Some of the communities receiving tornado recovery funds include:

• City of Washington, $7,685,593; Community High School, $6,769; Township Road District, $11,568; Park District, $20,877
• Village of Gifford, $379,295
• Brookport, $1,803,334; Massac County, $31,399
• City of Pekin, $115,666
• Diamond, $441,853
• Coal City, $446,096
• East Peoria, $268,393
• Compromise Township, Champaign County, $185,130

Numerous other municipalities are receiving disaster recovery funding in addition to those listed.

“We want to thank Governor Quinn for this first set of payments from the State Tornado Relief,” Washington Mayor Gary Manier said. “The approval of the entire City of Washington submission to IDOT is greatly appreciated and allows us to take yet another step toward recovery.”

“I can’t thank Governor Quinn and his agency directors enough for all they’ve done for us in Brookport to help us recover from the tornado,” Brookport Mayor Pro Tem Tom Souders said.

When certain federal disaster recovery assistance for local governments was denied, Governor Quinn directed state agencies to assemble a $45 million relief package for Illinois communities devastated by the November 2013 tornadoes. Visit Ready.Illinois.gov for more information.

Governor Quinn today also signed three new laws related to disaster recovery:

House Bill 4590, sponsored by State Representative Chad Hays (R-Catlin) and State Senator William Brady (R-Bloomington), creates the Illinois Gives Initiative that allows current and retired state employees to donate a portion of their paycheck or annuity to Illinois chapters of the American Red Cross whose territories are affected by disasters. The law is effective immediately.

Senate Bill 2922, sponsored by State Senator William Haine (D-Alton) and State Representative Dan Beiser (D-Alton), sets a limit of 10 percent on the amount of compensation an insurance adjuster may receive when representing a consumer in a claim resulting from a disaster. The law is effective Jan. 1, 2015.

Senate Bill 3259, sponsored by State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign) and State Representative Chad Hays (R-Catlin), protects small businesses that rebuild after being affected by a disaster. The law slowly phases in property taxes over a 15-year period to prevent an immediate tax hike on the repaired or rebuilt business property. The new law is effective immediately.