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Governor Quinn Requests Federal Assistance for February Winter Storm


SPRINGFIELD–(ENEWSPF)–February 28, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today sent a formal request to President Barack Obama asking that 60 counties be declared federal disaster areas, in order to help local governments recover from the major blizzard and winter storm that impacted much of Illinois in early February. State and local government expenses related to storm response and recovery are estimated to be more than $64 million.

“Record snowfall and dangerous ice from this major winter storm created significant challenges for local governments earlier this month”, said Governor Quinn. “While the snow is mostly gone, the serious financial impacts of the storm remain. Today I am asking President Obama to help these communities recover many of their expenses by approving this request.”

In the letter to President Obama, Governor Quinn requested that 60 counties receive federal reimbursement for extraordinary storm-related expenses, including emergency protective measures, debris removal and permanent repair of damages to government-owned facilities and electrical cooperatives. If approved, local government entities could receive reimbursement for 75 percent of their eligible storm-related expenses.

Counties included in this portion of the request include:

Adams
Bond
Boone
Brown
Bureau
Calhoun
Carroll
Cass
Christian
Clark
Clay
Coles
Cook
Crawford
Cumberland
DeKalb
Douglas
DuPage
Edgar
Effingham
Fayette
Ford
Fulton
Hancock
Henderson
Henry
Jasper
Jo Daviess
Kane
Knox
Lake
LaSalle
Lee
Logan
Marion
Marshall
Mason
McDonough
McHenry
Menard
Mercer
Morgan
Moultrie
Ogle
Peoria
Pike
Putnam
Richland
Rock Island
Schuyler
Scott
Shelby
Stark
Tazewell
Warren
Washington
Whiteside
Will
Winnebago
Woodford

Governor Quinn also requested a snow storm declaration for 43 counties that experienced a one, two or three-day record or near-record snow fall. A snow storm declaration would enable the counties to recoup 75 percent of extraordinary snow removal costs for a 48-hour period. Those counties include:

Adams
Boone
Brown
Bureau
Calhoun
Carroll
Cass
Cook
DeKalb
DuPage
Ford
Fulton
Hancock
Henderson
Henry
Jo Daviess
Kane
Knox
Lake
LaSalle
Lee
Logan
Marshall
Mason
McDonough
McHenry
Menard
Mercer
Morgan
Ogle
Peoria
Pike
Putnam
Rock Island
Schuyler
Scott
Stark
Tazewell
Warren
Whiteside
Will
Winnebago
Woodford

Additionally, nine of the counties included in the snow storm request experienced snowfall that exceeded their record snowfall by at least 50 percent. Those counties include Adams, Boone, Brown, Ford, Henderson, Knox, McHenry, Menard and Scott. For those counties, Governor Quinn requested a 24-hour extension of the 48-hour period for snow removal, which, if approved, would allow those counties to receive 75 percent reimbursement for snow removal costs during a continuous 72-hour period.

Last week, representatives from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reviewed storm-related expense information from nearly 1,700 local governmental bodies in 74 counties to determine if the costs could be eligible for federal reimbursement. Documentation from that review was submitted with the Governor’s request.

“We’ve been working closely with local governments and FEMA to compile support for the Governor’s request,” said IEMA Acting Director Jonathon Monken. “We hope the federal government acts quickly to help these communities recover from this major snow storm.”

Monken said additional counties could be added to the federal request in the future if more expense information is submitted by local officials.

Source: illinois.gov

 


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