For Immediate Release / Contact:
Christina Mulka (Durbin) or Michael Ortiz (Obama)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement following President Bush's announcement of Individual Assistance for eighteen Illinois counties - Adams, Calhoun, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Hancock, Henderson, Jasper, Jersey, Lake, Lawrence, Mercer, Rock Island, Whiteside, and Winnebago - that have experienced major flooding and storm damage. Additionally, the entire state of Illinois is now eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grants.
Earlier today, Durbin and Representatives Melissa Bean (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) along with staff members from Obama's office and several other congressional offices met with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to urge additional assistance for the storm and flood stricken Illinois counties.
"Mr. Paulison was kind enough to meet with the Illinois Delegation today to talk to us about the current situation in Illinois and the flood disasters. Today's decision to make Individual Assistance available in fourteen counties will give residents, families and businesses access to funding and services to help repair and replaced damaged personal items, buildings and homes. Additionally, the state of Illinois will have access to additional resources for recovery after being made eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
"Up to this point, all of the agencies involved - federal, state and local - deserve the highest praise. As the rebuilding and recovery efforts move forward, we will continue to work in Washington to ensure a coordinated federal response to the disaster."
According to FEMA, Individual Assistance provides assistance to households for rent, repairs, replacement of home and personal goods up to a maximum of $28,800 per household. FEMA aid is designed to complement rather than replace private insurance, so any claims paid by private companies will be taken into account in the determination of a FEMA grant. To be eligible for individual assistance, affected residents must apply for assistance with FEMA. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of the program is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.
Yesterday, President Bush designated eighteen Illinois counties - Adams, Calhoun, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Hancock, Henderson, Jasper, Jersey, Lake, Lawrence, Mercer, Rock Island, Whiteside, and Winnebago - as eligible for Direct Federal Assistance. Direct Federal Assistance provides reimbursement for expenditures that the State of Illinois covers food, water and other consumable commodities, and other emergency protective measures, including sandbags, installation of generators and shoring or demolition of unsafe structures.