Federal disaster area declaration clears the way for aid
Lake County and 13 other Illinois counties being declared federal disaster areas this week opens the door for home and business owners with flood damage to apply for grants or low-interest loans.
But neither the Federal Emergency Management Agency nor the Small Business Administration will provide money for local governments to cover their flood-related costs. That decision will be made after FEMA officials tour stricken areas with local and state leaders.
"I'm very happy about the designation," said John Schmidtke, a flooding victim in the hard-hit Fox River Springs subdivision near Antioch. "Unfortunately, we had to have another round of flooding, but at least there is aid coming from the federal government.
"But, I would rather do without the flooding."
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