New governor's 1st action

Declares state disaster areas for 7 downstate counties

[January 31, 2009]  SPRINGFIELD -- On Friday, Gov. Pat Quinn issued a state disaster declaration for Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union counties to help those areas recover from a severe winter storm this week that downed trees and electrical lines and cut power to more than 12,000 homes. The gubernatorial proclamation enables the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to coordinate state resources to support local governments in their disaster response and recovery efforts.

"IEMA has been coordinating closely with local officials to determine what assistance they need from the state," said Quinn. "This declaration will ensure that state assets are available to help them protect the safety of their citizens and quickly recover from this destructive winter storm."

Quinn said the state has an array of assets that can be mobilized to help communities recover from disasters, including personnel and equipment to assist with security and other public safety issues, as well as trucks, heavy equipment and work crews to speed debris removal.

IEMA officials are continuing to work with local emergency managers to determine what types of state assistance will be needed. Earlier, crews from the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police cleared interstate roads and are working on secondary highways and local roads.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]