FEMA declines plea for disaster help

There'll be no federal help for victims of last month's flooding in 15 southern Illinois counties.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has turned down the state's request for loans and grants for people and businesses affected by the floods.

The state plans to do another assessment of the damage to see if it would support an appeal of FEMA's decision.

The counties covered in the request were: Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, White and Williamson.

Governor Rod Blagojevich has said 39 homes were destroyed, 150 homes sustained major damage and 374 homes had lesser damage. Some 145 businesses also were damaged by flood waters.