Governor Quinn Announces Federal Flood Disaster Aid Tops $100 Million

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that more than $100 million in federal grants have been approved to help more than 38,000 residents whose homes and personal items were damaged or destroyed by the historic flooding in April. In addition, $16.6 million in low-interest loans have been approved to help individuals and businesses recover from the floods. Governor Quinn successfully secured the federal aid that made these grants and loans available to people in 33 flood-impacted counties.

"My administration has worked hard to ensure that families, businesses and governments across Illinois have every resource they need to recover from these historic floods," Governor Quinn said. "Our work and the determination of people across Illinois have resulted in $100 million in federal aid to date, and we have more work to do. I thank President Obama, as well as Senator Durbin, Senator Kirk and Illinois' entire congressional delegation for their strong support as we work to recover."

People in the 33 federally designated counties are eligible to apply for federal aid, which can include grants to help with home repairs, replacement of damaged personal property and other disaster-related expenses as well as loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Those counties include Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Clark, Cook, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Peoria, Pike, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.

Registration for federal disaster aid can be completed online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Residents can call 800-621-3362, (TTY) 800-462-7585, or those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362.

Since the historic flooding began in mid-April, Governor Quinn has led an aggressive response and recovery effort for families and businesses that were impacted. Beginning on April 18, Governor Quinn activated the State Emergency Operations Center and called a State of Emergency to alert the federal government and deploy state resources. Governor Quinn visited impacted communities across the state, and worked to get federal aid as quickly as possible for every resident, business and local government in need.

The Quinn Administration's flood response included nearly one million sandbags for communities across Illinois, as well as 2,400 tons of sand, hundreds of state personnel, thousands of inmates and dozens of state vehicles and other equipment.

Last week, Governor Quinn announced his administration's strong success in obtaining federal assistance for local governments in nearly all - 39 of 40 - counties impacted by the flooding. This federal declaration allows local governments in impacted counties to seek reimbursement for 75 percent of their eligible flood-related expenses. Those counties include Adams, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Crawford, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lawrence, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Will and Woodford counties.

Total flood-related expenses for state and local governments has topped $70 million. IEMA and FEMA currently are conducting briefings to help local governments begin the reimbursement process.