Illinois gets extension to determine flooding damage

SPRINGFIELD, Il. (AP) - Illinois has received additional time to determine whether to seek a federal disaster declaration for early-winter floods.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency says its federal counterpart has extended by two weeks a Friday deadline to make such a request. The state agency had sought to push the deadline back to mid-March.

Federal Emergency Management Agency workers came to Illinois early this month to work with the U.S. Small Business Administration, IEMA and county emergency management agencies to document the extent of damage to homes and businesses in central and southern Illinois.

IEMA director James Joseph says that more time is needed to review joint damage assessments only completed earlier this week.

A federal disaster declaration could provide financial help to Illinois residents as well as local governments.