Gov. Blagojevich directs state resources to assist communities damaged by storms         

Seven counties declared disaster areas

Governor mobilizes state response to help in recovery effort

[MARCH 13, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today declared seven Illinois counties state disaster areas following a round of storms that moved quickly through the area this weekend, causing severe damage and approximately two dozen minor injuries. While staff with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is still assessing the damage, no fatalities were reported as of midday Monday.

"We activated the State Emergency Operations Center last night and began coordinating the state response as soon as the storms started moving through Illinois," Blagojevich said. "Thankfully, right now it appears that no one was killed, and injuries appear non-life-threatening. Illinois government is now focused on cleaning up and helping people get on with their lives."

After meeting this morning with Illinois Emergency Management Agency staff and surveying some of the affected area, the governor Blagojevich declared Ford, Greene, Logan, Morgan, Randolph, Sangamon and Scott counties state disaster areas.

This afternoon the governor toured parts of Springfield and met with Mayor Tim Davlin to survey damaged sections of the city. The tornado tracked through the city of Springfield from the southwest corner and exited through the east central portion of the city. At one point, all of Springfield and the surrounding area were without power. As of this morning, approximately 30,000 people in and around Springfield remained without power.

Currently, work crews from the Illinois Department of Corrections, numbering more than 70 inmates, have been dispatched to assist in cleanup efforts in Morgan, Randolph, Sangamon and Scott counties. The Illinois Department of Transportation has crews cleaning up debris along the highways throughout the state and is assisting with equipment and manpower in Morgan and Sangamon counties.

The Department of Human Services is putting together a 1-800 response number to field questions from residents affected by the storms. The number is [phone].

In addition, the governor has directed his staff to work with the Illinois State Bar Association to set up a lawyer referral network for residents affected by the storm. People who were affected by the storm and have legal issues will be directed to the Illinois State Bar Association, which will assist by connecting people with a volunteer lawyer through this network. State agency lawyers are being asked to field questions from state employees who may also have storm-related legal questions.

[News release from the governor's office]