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Gov. Blagojevich
requests federal assistance for Rockford-area homeowners, renters
and businesses after Labor Day flooding
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Governor seeks Small Business
Administration physical disaster declaration
[SEPT. 12, 2006]
SPRINGFIELD -- On Monday, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich
requested federal assistance for Winnebago County, a request that if
granted would make low-interest loans available to homeowners,
renters and businesses hard-hit by the flash flooding caused by
severe storms on Labor Day.
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"Many people in Winnebago County had their lives turned upside down
last week when flash flooding swept through their homes and
businesses," Blagojevich said. "We've worked with federal officials
to determine what the community needs and to identify federal
disaster assistance programs that could help people recover. Today,
I'm asking the federal government to quickly grant our request so
that people can get some of the help they need to put the pieces
back together again."
On Sept. 7, the governor declared Rockford and Winnebago County a
state disaster area after the severe flooding on Labor Day.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency asked representatives
from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small
Business Administration to visit the area and assess damage. That
assessment, completed over the weekend, identified physical damage
to buildings, machinery, equipment, inventory, homes and other
property exceeding the minimum amount of damage required for a Small
Business Administration physical disaster declaration. To be
eligible, an area must have more than 25 homes or businesses that
have sustained uninsured losses of at least 40 percent or more of
their estimated fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market
value.
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 If approved, people and businesses affected by the Labor Day
flash flood could be eligible for low-interest loans to help them
recover from their losses.
Blagojevich said the state continues to work with city and county
officials on recovery efforts in the area.
[News release from the governor's
office]
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