DuPage blizzard costs could exceed $4 million

DuPage County officials are estimating clean up costs related to last week’s blizzard will exceed $4 million.

Friday afternoon was the deadline for municipalities to submit their costs to be included in the county’s submission for federal assistance. To qualify, the county must have at least $2.9 million in submissions.

“Typically the costs that qualify for public assistance include overtime costs, snow removal expenses and damage to government property,” county emergency management coordinator David Gervino said. “We’re on track to exceed $4 million in those expenses.”

Gervino said his office will submit the county’s initial damage assessment cost tabulation to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday. The agency will then make a recommendation to Gov. Pat Quinn who will ultimately decide whether to seek federal assistance.

If the assistance is granted, Gervino said, municipalities could recoup up to 75 percent of the costs associated with the blizzard.

Naperville officials, who submitted the largest municipal request of $426,000, are hoping for the “best-case scenario.”

“The more of that we can get back the better,” said City Manager Doug Krieger, who is already attempting to close a $700,000 budget gap. “So far, the storm hasn’t had a detrimental effect on our budget, but ultimately that will be determined by whatever else Mother Nature has in store for us.”