FEMA completes tour of Kane County, homeless await help

At least 18 people in Kane County remain homeless more than a week after at least 10 inches of rain drenched parts of the area. But help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency may be on the way.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials completed their tour of Kane County Monday night. All that remains is the completion of a statewide tour and the signing of what Kane County officials expect to be a federal disaster area declaration that could bring money to residents looking to clean up and rebuild.

More than 100 homes suffered serious damage in Kane County, including 36 homes in Elgin that remain uninhabitable as of Tuesday afternoon. About 18 people, mostly from the Poplar Creek subdivision in Elgin, are living in hotels, thanks to vouchers provided by the Salvation Army.

Dozens of other residents may also still be in homeless shelters or have found other living arrangements, according to Elgin officials who are trying to complete an accurate count of the displaced.

Communities across the county are conducting informal damage counts based on homes displaying damaged goods at their curbs on trash pickup days.

Don Bryant, director of the Kane County Office of Emergency Management, said Tuesday the distribution of more than 40,000 sandbags and 215 tons of sand to flooded areas appeared to have staved off more serious damage for many homes.

Still, those displaced by water face a long recovery process. In addition to repairs, every home must have a contractor come in to ensure the home's utilities are safe before the homes can be lived in once again.

Bryant advised county officials that state loans with a 2.5 percent interest rate are available for people affected by floods. FEMA money will also be available to local communities for reimbursement of overtime costs associated with public works and emergency staff put into action by waters that swept along at river speeds down some local streets in areas such as Campton Hills.

Bryant advised all residents to take photos of damages before repairing them and keeping all receipts to be eligible for FEMA assistance.