A team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is joining state officials next week to assess recent flood damage in Vermilion, Iroquois and Kankakee counties.
Governor Bruce Rauner and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency had requested federal assistance for the counties following severe flooding during February. County officials conducted initial damage assessments and found that 126 homes were destroyed or suffered major damage. Another 850 homes were also impacted by flood waters.
‘’Many people in these counties are struggling to recover from this flood and we want to do everything possible to help them,’’ said Governor Rauner. ‘’These damage assessments will provide a clearer picture of the damage and insight on what people need in order to fully get back on their feet,’’ he added.
Personnel from FEMA, IEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and local emergency management agencies are expected to begin assessing damage to homes and businesses on Monday (March 19th, 2018). The assessments will continue until they are completed.
Governor Rauner issued a disaster proclaimation for Vermilion, Iroquois and Kankakee counties on February 23rd to ensure state support during the flooding.
The Illinois Emergency Operations Center in Springfield was activated during the flooding to coordinate the assistance. The State of Illinois assistance included 50,000 sandbags, 9 Illinois Department of Corrections work crews, two Emergency Management Assistance Teams, along with pumps and hoses.
