Thanks to Roskam for flood relief help

To the editor: U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam has been a friend to Des Plaines during our most trying times.

When FEMA eliminated Cook County from the declared disaster area after the August 2007 storms, Roskam signed onto a delegation letter to the president requesting reconsideration. He also wrote to the FEMA administrator asking for the city of Des Plaines to get a lower premium rate on flood insurance due to the improvements in flood prevention measures now in place.

He supports the federal funds received by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the Levee 37 project, which when completed, will alleviate flooding in the northern area of the Des Plaines River. Included in the project is the Big Bend Lake Reservoir Expansion. The maximum flood of record caused an estimated $35 million in damage to 10,000 dwellings and 263 business and industrial sites. More than 15,000 residents were evacuated from the flooded area, and there were severe impacts to the area transportation networks. The Levee 37 project will help further mitigate flooding issues for all affected communities.

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam has shown strong support for our area and on behalf of the citizens of Des Plaines, I say "thank you."

Mayor Tony Arredia

City of Des Plaines