Community Corner

Lake County Legislators Seek Storm Relief Aid

Residents are being asked to report damage from thunderstorm.

Local residents are being asked to report damage resulting from the July 11 thunderstorm to their local emergency management coordinator to help facilitate clean-up and assessment estimates; the Lake County delegation to the Illinois House of Representatives announced today along with other important developments related to storm clean-up efforts.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is sending clean-up crews from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) at the request of municipalities located in Lake County. The crews will help clean up tree branches and debris caused by the storm at no cost to the municipality. Since IDOT equipment cannot go on private property, residents are being asked to take tree branches to the boulevard and IDOT will remove it at no cost.

 

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Disaster relief funds are currently not available. As part of the assessment, each municipality affected by the storm will send a damage survey to IEMA, at which time the Governor can request a federal disaster declaration if the damages exceed $16 million. Guidelines are set by the federal government. The damage survey must be completed before a determination can be made whether Lake County qualifies for disaster relief assistance from damage resulting from the July 11th storm.

 

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Federal public disaster assistance would reimburse the state and local municipalities for clean-up costs associated with the storm. Once the threshold for public assistance is met, then individual assistance to help private homes and businesses impacted by the storm may become available.

 

“The recent storm caused widespread damage to residential homes and businesses throughout the area,” said State Rep. JoAnn Osmond (R-Antioch). “State and local officials are doing everything we can to ensure Lake County receives all the disaster relief assistance we can obtain.”

 

“The public has been tremendously patient and helpful in the aftermath of the storm, reporting property damage and public safety concerns,” noted Rep. Sandy Cole (R-Grayslake). “We ask the public for their continued help and cooperation as we work to assess the need for relief efforts.”

 

State Rep. Kent Gaffney (R-Lake Barrington) pointed out the need for communities to work cooperatively as the damage assessment process moves forward. “We need to make sure affected residents receive as much assistance as our emergency management team can provide in the aftermath of a major storm. This is a time for neighborhoods and communities to come together.”

 

“I would like to thank my constituents for sharing their questions and concerns with our office since the morning of the storm,” added State Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein). “Active public input and participation is essential in our ability to complete an accurate assessment of storm damage and take the necessary steps to ensure safe and effective clean-up.”

 

In addition, State Rep. Sidney Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove) noted the importance of information sharing between local residents and municipalities in coordination with the damage assessment. “As we move forward, it is critical for us to keep those affected by the storm updated on developments pertaining to clean-up and relief efforts. I commend Lake County Chairman David Stolman and the entire County Board; we must always work together to ensure the most efficient and effective response effort to major storms, both today and in the future.”

Local residents are asked to report storm damage to their local emergency management coordinator so that the damage can be added to the total damage census resulting from the storm to help in determining whether Lake County may qualify for federal disaster relief funding.

 

The emergency management coordinator for Lake County is Kent McKenzie, who can be reached at (847) 377-7100.

 

This press release was provided by Joe Woodward, Communications Analyst, Office of the House Republican Leader, via Rep. Sandy Cole.


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