Why FEMA is here now, not weeks ago

Most of the cleanup from the Aug. 23 storm was done days ago, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency began touring the Chicago suburbs Tuesday to assess damage.

Still, that was in plenty of time for the type of information they look for, FEMA officials said.

FEMA is particularly looking for any storm damage that isn't covered by insurance and is beyond local and state agencies' ability to help, public affairs spokesman Dick Gifford said.

"We're not here to duplicate services," Gifford said. "We're surveying the damage as it relates to the storm and as it relates to federal assistance."

Going door to door in areas referred to FEMA by the state, damage assessors started hearing stories first-hand from residents and businesses owners. They still were able to see such telltale evidence as water marks on houses, lingering sandbags and uncollected piles of tree limbs.

Gifford said no one from FEMA strongly expected to find anyone not well on their way through the cleanup process by Tuesday.

But arriving when they did, he said, federal and state assessors are able to clear up confusing information some residents heard from their insurance companies -- and identify people who have fallen between the cracks in getting financial assistance from other sources.