Durbin, Obama Suggest Preemptive State Disaster Declaration
Friday, June 13, 2008
Printable FormatFor 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 sent a letter to Governor Rod Blagojevich asking him to consider preemptively declaring state disaster areas for some Illinois counties that expected to be severely affected by major floods next week. Declaring state disaster areas in advance of the flood will allow the state to make more resources available to local governments to mitigate the widespread damage that is expected while enabling the state to request federal disaster assistance in a timely manner. Governor Jim Edgar declared seven counties state disaster areas in advance of the 1993 floods.
"In preparation for the widespread damage that is anticipated as a result of next week's major flood event, we write to ask that you consider preemptively declaring those Illinois counties projected to be severely affected as state disaster areas," said Durbin. "Heavy rainfall in Iowa and Wisconsin is expected to cause major flooding next week along the Mississippi River as water levels rise to record or near-record levels comparable to 1993 flood levels. The St. Louis Army Corps of Engineers expects several levees to overtop or approach freeboard. Locks and dams along the Mississippi have been closed in anticipation of the flood event, making over 200 miles of the river non-navigable to commercial river traffic."
text of the letter below and attached
June 13, 2008
The Honorable Rod Blagojevich
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Governor Blagojevich:
In preparation for the widespread damage that is anticipated as a result of next week's major flood event, we write to ask that you consider preemptively declaring those Illinois counties projected to be severely affected as state disaster areas.
An unusually wet May and June and last week's storms have caused floodwaters to rise along multiple river systems in Illinois. On Tuesday, the failure of levees on the Embarras and Wabash rivers forced the evacuation of 200 homes in Lawrence County and left 10,000 residents without running water. Heavy rainfall in Iowa and Wisconsin is expected to cause major flooding next week along the Mississippi River as water levels rise to record or near-record levels comparable to 1993 flood levels. The St. Louis Army Corps of Engineers expects several levees to overtop or approach freeboard. Locks and dams along the Mississippi have been closed in anticipation of the flood event, making over 200 miles of the river non-navigable to commercial river traffic.
You appropriately declared six southeastern Illinois counties state disaster areas in response to last week's storms and you responded to the Lawrence County levee failures. But local officials have alerted us to the fact that unless the state makes more resources available to local governments, these communities will be unable to prepare for and mitigate the widespread damage expected to result from next week's flood event. Issuing a preemptive state disaster declaration for counties projected to be severely affected would also enable the state to request federal disaster assistance in a timely manner.
We thank you for your consideration and stand ready to assist in any way appropriate.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
Barack Obama
United States Senator