The Federal Disaster Declaration Makes Assistance Available to Flood Victims

Governor Quinn Announces Approval of Federal Flood Relief for 11 Counties

Impacted Families Eligible to Apply for Grants and Low-Interest Loans; Businesses Can Apply for Low-Interest Loans

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced President Barack Obama has approved his request for federal assistance to help people and businesses in 11 Illinois counties recover from historic flooding in mid-April. The announcement comes just one day after Governor Quinn submitted his request for Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry and Will counties.

“I thank President Obama for his fast and responsive approval of our request for federal assistance to help families across Illinois recover from this devastating flood,” Governor Quinn said. “This quick action will help speed relief to the people of Illinois who suffered flood damages and help them begin rebuilding their lives.”

The federal disaster declaration will help people and businesses in the 11 counties by allowing them to apply for grants and loans to assist with storm-related losses.

Governor Quinn submitted a request for federal disaster assistance to President Obama on Thursday. The request was supported by damage assessment documentation that identified 41 homes in the 11-county area that were destroyed and 761 that suffered major damage. Thousands of additional homes were also affected by the floods. More than 3,500 homes in those counties were surveyed.

The federal disaster declaration makes assistance available to flood victims, including grants to individuals and households to help with temporary housing, home repairs or replacement and other disaster-related expenses, as well as low-interest SBA loans to residents and businesses

“We will begin working immediately with FEMA to ensure flood victims can get needed help as quickly as possible,” IEMA Director Jonathon Monken said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the assistance program, has a toll-free telephone number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY for hearing and speech impaired) for victims to apply for assistance. Registration can also be done online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Damage assessments are continuing in many other counties hit by severe flooding and additional requests for federal assistance to help citizens in those counties are expected.