Governor Visits Flooded Communities in Northeastern Illinois

GURNEE, IL - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today took an aerial tour of flooded communities along the Des Plaines River, meeting with local elected officials and community leaders in Gurnee to declare Lake County and six townships in Cook County state disaster areas.

 

"I'm inspired by the way this community has pulled together to make sure neighbors are safe and to preserve endangered buildings and homes.  I heard there were nearly 300 students, parents and teachers on hand when the flood hit to help sandbag the newly-renovated Gurnee Grade School," said Governor Blagojevich.  "I want residents here to know that we will do whatever we can as a State to help your communities recover."

 

Record rainfall this spring in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois has led to the highest water level in the Des Plaines River in two decades. At Gurnee, the river is considered to be at flood level when it reaches 7 feet. It crested Tuesday evening at 11.69 feet, just short of the record

of 11.95 feet set in 1986.

 

After viewing the affected areas by helicopter, Governor Blagojevich declared all of Lake County as well as Leyden, Lyons, Maine, Northfield, Proviso and Wheeling Townships in Cook County state disaster areas.  The declaration solidifies the state's commitment to helping with cleanup and allows individual property owners in the disaster areas to have damaged property reassessed for one year.

 

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency will coordinate with other state agencies to manage cleanup.  As the water recedes, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) will test the local water to ensure the safety levels of drinking water.  The agencies will also assist with providing vaccinations to workers and the public if needed, and helping to dispose of used sand bags after the water returns to normal levels. 

 

The Governor's declaration is also the first step in enabling the affected communities to apply for federal disaster assistance.  When the water begins to recede, a joint state and federal Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) will be conducted to determine whether the extent of damage to homes and businesses and the costs incurred by local governments during their emergency response meet the qualifying standards for federal assistance. If they qualify, the Governor will formally ask President Bush to provide disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  A federal declaration may entitle local residents, businesses and municipalities to financial assistance for clean-up costs.

 

The state has been helping communities along the Des Plains River with their emergency response since Sunday, when the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Springfield to assess the situation and coordinate assets that the state can provide to assist local responders.  IEMA Director William C. Burke and other IEMA staff members went to the area Sunday to meet with local officials and relay requests for assistance to the SEOC, and have been coordinating efforts on-site ever since.

 

 

In addition, the American Red Cross has a shelter set up in Des Plaines, fixed feeding stations in Gurnee, and is staging 200 clean-up kits with 500 additional kits on the way.

 

The flooding has not caused any deaths or serious injuries.  State and local officials reminded residents to use extreme caution near flood waters, and advised parents to keep their children from playing in or near floodwaters, as rapid currents can pull them down and carry them away.