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 But the work doesn't stop
there. The recovery effort begins now, said Joseph Klinger, interim
director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
Individual counties may seek federal assistance for the snow
emergency, but they must meet three requirements, Klinger said.
Counties must first meet "near record snowfall," defined as 10
percent of the record, he said.
"Our preliminary data indicates a large portion of the northern half
of Illinois may actually meet that threshold, but those numbers must
be confirmed by the National Weather Service later this month,"
Klinger said.
In addition, the state must reach $16.1 million in eligible costs
related to snow removal, which includes mobilizing the National
Guard and equipment fees, he said.
Each county that qualifies must also meet a $3.27 per capita
threshold for snow removal during the 48-hour period, he said.
"We have successfully confronted what the National Weather Service
called a 'life-threatening blizzard of historic proportions,'"
Klinger said.
Gov. Pat Quinn on Friday described the blizzard as a "weather
emergency," praising efforts by state troops, police and state
agencies to assist more than 4,000 drivers during the storm.
The governor issued a disaster declaration late Monday before the
snowstorm dumped between 11 to 20 inches of snow across the state
early Tuesday through midday Wednesday.
The blizzard shut down state government offices, closed schools and
limited access to roads across the state earlier this week. State
operations resumed Thursday.
Quinn called to duty more than 500 Illinois National Guard troops to
assist the Illinois State Police with attempts to dig out more than
200 snowed-in drivers statewide.
Other state agencies, including the Illinois Department of
Transportation, combined their efforts with police and troops to
rescue more than 4,000 stranded drivers, according to a statement
from the governor's office.
About 1,629 IDOT snowplow trucks cleared 16,500 miles of highway
during the winter storm, according to a news release. But IDOT
snowplows had trouble clearing snow-covered roads due to snowdrifts
and stranded drivers.
[to top of second column] |
 In an effort to
improve road conditions, several stretches of interstates were
temporarily closed on Wednesday. Drivers had limited access to
Interstate 74 between Galesburg and Peoria, Interstate 39 between
Bloomington and Rockford, and all of Interstate 155, according to
the National Weather Service.
"Most routes are clear now of snow and ice," said Christine Reed,
IDOT's director of highways and chief engineer. "We will continue
the cleanup efforts and will not rest until the state's
transportation system is as safe as possible for the motoring
public."
Reed reminds motorists to continue to drive with caution.
"A snowplow
operator's view is limited and constrained, so please don't crowd
the plow," Reed said. "In addition, as you drive, please remember:
ice and snow, take it slow. "
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By DIANE S.W. LEE]
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