Opinion

IEMA has, and will, be there, for county

Posted March 18, 2008 11:00 pm

This paper's March 13 article concerning state assistance following floods last August in Lake County requires clarification. In response to the floods, Gov. Blagojevich promised to provide help and seek additional federal assistance. In fact, the state did provide help and federal assistance was aggressively pursued.

Moreover, evidence of the governor's concern for Lake County was seen when FEMA approved his request for federal assistance to several counties, including Lake, for this year's snow-related disaster costs.

When communities are overwhelmed by disasters, Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) personnel are dispatched to lend technical expertise regarding the disaster assessment process, and offer assistance via a menu of state assets that can be accessed during disasters.

IEMA help can include assistance with law enforcement and other public safety issues, trucks and crews to help with post-event debris removal, and delivery of items such as sandbags. This assistance addresses both immediate response needs and saves communities on expenses, such as overtime and commodities. Several of those services were requested by and provided to Lake County.

Gov. Blagojevich sought additional federal assistance for people, businesses and communities affected by this flooding -- aid that is not available at the state level. FEMA approved four counties for local government assistance; unfortunately Lake County was not one of those approved. These decisions are made at the federal level. However, the governor was successful in securing assistance for people and businesses in Lake and five other counties.

Since January 2007, 16 Illinois counties have been declared state disaster areas due to severe storms, flooding or ice storms. In each instance, IEMA personnel were there in the rain, sleet, or snow, working closely with local emergency officials to ensure that they receive needed assets and personnel. I can assure you IEMA will continue to provide assistance to communities in need as it has in the past and as it did for Lake County.

Andrew Velasquez III

Director,

Illinois Emergency Management Agency

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