Governor makes plea for federal aid for storms, flooding

In Mount Prospect, where officials spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the wake of August's storms, Mayor Irvana Wilks has hope.

In Geneva, where floodwater destroyed a chunk of the Mill Race Inn restaurant and ruined piles of food and liquor, so does owner Charles Roumeliotis.

Hope that the latest post-storm development -- a request from Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Friday that nine Illinois counties be declared federal disaster areas -- will help.

Confidence that the financial aid that defines such a distinction really will come through -- helping towns, homeowners and businesses handle the mushy aftermath.

"We need it," Roumeliotis said, recounting his losses.

"That would be so wonderful," Wilks agreed. Mount Prospect spent thousands just to pile up sandbags to halt the rising Des Plaines River.

Blagojevich's request seeks a federal disaster declaration for Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry and Will counties due to damage from storms in late August.

If OK'd, the federal distinction could offer cash grants for homeowners, low-interest loans for businesses and individuals and financial help for towns recovering from the storms. It also could help pay for projects that prevent such future damages.

Officials said Friday they didn't know how long it could take to get an answer back from Washington, but "obviously, the governor is asking that they review this as quickly as possible," said Patti Thompson, with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Across the nine counties, nearly 70 homes were destroyed by the storms. More than 160 others -- including 25 in Kane County and 23 in Cook County -- sustained major damage. About 5,000 more suffered lesser damage.

Towns also suffered when it came to cleaning up. Across all nine counties, the municipal price tags tally nearly $23 million, officials said. Des Plaines accounts for about $2.2 million of that; West Dundee and Mount Prospect are estimating $1.2 million and $1.3 million in storm-related costs, respectively.

Bearing those figures in mind, "we do encourage everyone to at least apply (for help)" if the federal declaration is OK'd, Thompson said. "That doesn't mean everybody will be approved. But … don't count yourself out."

A Web site and hotline will be set up to help in the application process should President Bush formally declare the counties disaster areas.

After that, some forms of help -- like the loans -- could be in people's hands within weeks, says Michael Lampton, a spokesman for the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster program.

Of course, there are limits: The cash grants stop at $28,500 for households; loans are capped at $1.5 million for businesses and $200,000 for individual real estate repairs.

There also is skepticism.

Michael Halston, a Campton Hills resident who says he faces a five-figure repair bill because of flooding in his basement, scoffs at the idea of such federal financial aid.

He says he got nothing but dead ends when he tried -- tirelessly, he says -- to take advantage of disaster recovery loans touted after the governor declared nine counties state disaster areas.

"So actually, a declaration of a disaster means zero," he said, noting he may spend a little time trying for federal assistance if it's offered. But he cautioned anyone against "expecting miracles" when it comes to government aid.

Wilks, who says the federal help could guard against having to raise taxes to pay for storm costs, is more optimistic. But "the government can't come in and rescue everyone in every situation," she acknowledges.

Blagojevich's request for a federal disaster declaration came on the heels of damage reports done by IEMA, the Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Representatives from those groups toured areas hard-hit by the storms in the past two weeks assessing the damage.

They also considered other factors, including threats to public safety, the extent of peoples' insurance coverage, threats to public health and how many homes are livable.

Think you need help?

If your county is declared a federal disaster area, you could qualify for financial help to aid with flood and storm damage repair. Here are some things to know before you apply for it:

• Check with your insurance company first to make sure you know what will -- and won't -- be covered. You cannot be reimbursed twice for the same damages, and you'll also have to show proof that something wasn't covered.

• Document the damages, taking photos if possible.

• Keep receipts of any repairs that you've already paid for.

• Assistance largely will be doled out for essential needs, though officials encourage everyone to at least apply.

• You cannot apply yet. If the disaster declaration is OK'd, a Web site and hotline will be set up for applications.

Source: IEMA and FEMA interviews