Article updated: 5/11/2013 2:15 PM

Local officials welcome federal disaster designation

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Rebecca Cavanaugh rides in a canoe pushed by her aunt, Tina Dace of Evanston, and her sister, Robin, as they leave the flooded Big Bend neighborhood in Des Plaines last month.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

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Local officials Saturday welcomed President Barack Obama action declaring suburban counties hit by heavy flooding last month federal disaster areas, saying it will help the recovery. "There are many of our residents who don't even have flood insurance, and this is going to help them out," said Lisle Mayor Joe Broda. "We were keeping our fingers crossed that we would, in fact, qualify because it's really going to aid our folks in moving forward."