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"Thank you for the leadership and compassion that Congress has
already shown with respect to the devastating floods in the Midwest.
In Illinois, to date, we have declared 19 counties disaster areas,
and we are vigilantly monitoring conditions in many other areas.
While efforts to assess the damage are under way, with floodwaters
continuing to inundate many Illinois communities, it will be weeks,
if not months, before we truly know the full extent of the damage.
Even without completing this assessment, we know the resource needs
for recovery will be extensive," Blagojevich wrote in a letter to
the leaders.
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Andrew Velasquez
III said the preliminary damage assessment process would begin
Tuesday in the southeastern part of the state with the deployment of
a team consisting of staff from IEMA, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration. To date
the governor has declared 19 counties disaster areas: Adams,
Calhoun, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Hancock,
Henderson, Jasper, Jersey, Lake, Lawrence, Mercer, Pike, Rock
Island, Winnebago, Knox and Madison.
"From lost agricultural output to water plant repairs to levee
rebuilding, our state and our residents will need additional federal
resources. I know these needs are shared by our neighbors in Iowa,
Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin, among other states. As you finish
the fiscal year 2008 supplemental appropriations bill, I ask that
you give strong consideration to the inclusion of significant
additional funding to aid in the response and recovery to the floods
that are inflicting extensive economic and physical damage on
several Midwestern states," Blagojevich wrote.
[to top of second column] |
 In addition, Blagojevich also joined his peers with the
Midwestern Governors Association to ask congressional leaders for
assistance, sending a letter to express support for the states
experiencing disasters and underscore their need for prompt federal
assistance.
"The total losses resulting from this disaster are expected to
far exceed the levels of the devastating Midwest floods in 1993.
These disasters will not only have an enormous economic and
commercial impact in the Midwest, but the effects will also be felt
in the national and global economies. It is crucial that these
affected states receive federal funding for disaster mitigation and
recovery quickly," the Midwestern Governors Association wrote.
For the latest information on flooding, shelters, what to do
during a flood and what to do after a flood, go to
www.ready.illinois.gov.
(Copy of the governor's
letter)
[To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for
the PDF file, click
here.]
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
