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"Response and recovery efforts continue after the season's first
blast of winter weather, but these communities need federal help to
fully recover and prepare for more severe weather," Blagojevich
said. Blagojevich's letter to the president requests federal snow
assistance for counties that experienced a one-, two- or three-day
record or near-record snowfall. It also requested federal assistance
with state and local costs for debris removal and emergency
protective measures for counties severely affected by extraordinary
ice formation.
Counties included in the request for snow assistance are Adams,
Boone, Brown, Bureau, DeKalb, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Kendall, Knox,
LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Menard, Ogle,
Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Scott, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell and
Winnebago. If the snowfall totals for these counties are verified by
the National Weather Service, governmental bodies in those counties
would be eligible for reimbursement of 75 percent of overtime labor
costs for snow removal during a 48-hour period, as well as emergency
personnel overtime costs directly related to the snow removal
efforts.
Counties included in the request for debris removal and emergency
protective measures to help with extraordinary storm-related costs
are Bond, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, DeWitt, Greene,
Jersey, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, McLean, Monroe,
Montgomery, Morgan, Piatt, Sangamon, Schuyler, Shelby, St. Clair and
Woodford. If this part of the request is approved, units of local
government would be eligible for 75 percent federal reimbursement
for such extraordinary expenses as debris removal, emergency
sheltering, temporary power and security expenses
While the state and many counties continue to incur storm-related
expenses with recovery efforts still in progress, the state's
request for assistance included an initial estimate of more than $5
million.
Also as of Thursday afternoon, more than 45,000 homes were still
without electricity in Illinois.
On Nov. 28, with weather forecasts indicating a possible severe
winter storm, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency began
preparing for possible activation of the State Emergency Operations
Center by reaching out to state agency liaisons and gathering
pre-event information on available assets and response capabilities.
The emergency center has been activated since Nov. 30 to monitor
storm conditions and work with local officials on any state
assistance needed. The center will remain activated as long as
necessary. To date, the state has assisted in several ways,
including these:
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Blagojevich
declared 49 counties disaster areas due to record or near-record
snowfall and extraordinary ice formations. The gubernatorial
proclamation assists the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in
coordinating state resources, including the Illinois National
Guard, to support local governments in their disaster response
and recovery efforts.
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More than 500
troops from the Illinois Army National Guard helped ensure the
safety of citizens on Saturday and Sunday. About 100 Guardsmen
were sent to East St. Louis, where they conducted more than 800
door-to-door checks on citizens, while others checked for
stranded motorists at rest stops and along interstate highways
from the I-80 corridor down to I-70.
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On Thursday, more
than 250 Illinois Army National Guardsmen completed a three-day
mission in the Decatur and Macon County area, during which they
visited nearly 17,000 homes to check on the welfare of citizens
left without power after the storm. Guardsmen distributed safety
information to residents and assisted 118 people who needed
shelter or other assistance.
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An 18-member
Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team was dispatched to
Decatur to provide medical care at a shelter for special needs
individuals at Richland Community College. Eleven area residents
have been at the shelter.
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State resources,
such as inmates and heavy equipment, are assisting with debris
removal in Taylorville, Kincaid, Nokomis, Mechanicsburg,
Decatur, Schram City, Harvel, Buffalo, Fairview Heights and
Swansea
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More than 120 cots
from the Illinois National Guard and 600 meals were delivered by
staff from the Department of Central Management Services to four
shelters in St. Clair County.
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The state
dispatched a mobile command vehicle from Bloomington and an
Illinois Transportable Emergency Communications System from
Champaign to Decatur to aid with the emergency response effort.
The equipment was purchased with the state's homeland security
funding but is available for use during any type of emergency.
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Using an Illinois
National Guard Black Hawk helicopter, an Illinois Department of
Transportation truck, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
snowmobiles and an Illinois State Police four-wheel drive
vehicle, 200 meals were delivered to stranded travelers at a
rest area along I-80 near Princeton Friday evening, and another
200 were delivered to stranded motorists at a rest area east of
Galesburg. In addition, Department of Transportation Aeronautics
provided disaster intelligence to the State Emergency Operations
Center via a helicopter flying above the rest stop.
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The Illinois
National Guard used equipment and personnel to assist with
moving a small passenger jet at the Peoria Airport after the jet
broke down, blocking the gate area.
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To date, more than
1,700 Department of Transportation trucks have plowed more than
325,000 miles along Illinois interstates and highways.
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Hundreds of people
have sought a warm place to spend the night at several shelters
established by the American Red Cross.
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The State
Emergency Operations Center is coordinating with local emergency
management officials on assistance needed in their communities
as they respond to the ice, heavy snow and strong winds.
[News release from the governor's office] |
