Governor declares 4-county disaster area

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich today declared Cook, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties to be state disaster areas.

The governor toured the floodwaters of the Des Plaines River area by air before meeting with reporters in Fox Lake around noon.

"Even before the series of strong storms moved through Northern Illinois yesterday and dumped more rain on already-swollen streams and rivers, we were concerned about flooding that has already displaced many people," Gov. Blagojevich said, according to a news release issued by his office.

"The storms yesterday took a bad situation and made it much worse. After seeing first-hand the destruction caused by the floodwaters and talking with state and local officials, I am declaring Cook, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties state disaster areas so that we can ensure local response agencies get whatever assistance they need to protect people in their communities."

The state disaster proclamation means local governments can get state assistance to help them offset overtime and other costs involved with flood response.

However, Blagojevich's suburban tour and disaster declaration come just a day after he cut thousands of dollars worth of flood control projects for the area, calling them unessential "pork."

The sudden turnabout angered the Cook County lawmakers who pushed for $100,000 for Des Plaines River flood control efforts in Prospect Heights and $80,000 to shore up Buffalo Creek only to have the governor eliminate the funding.

"I think that it's really wrong to go to one area of flooding and say, 'I'm going to do everything I can,' and the day before having cut $100,000 for flood relief out of the budget," said state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat.

Meanwhile, earlier today, Lake County Board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt declared Lake County to be in a state of emergency and disaster.

Lake County is requesting assistance from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois State Police.