Political Quotes

“last July, heavy rain in Illinois caused severe flooding that led the Governor to declare disaster areas in Lake, McHenry, Kane, and Cook Counties. Thousands of buildings, including homes, businesses, and schools, were damaged by floodwaters. Thankfully, there were no fatalities as a result of this historic flooding. Lake County was one of the areas most impacted by the flooding. When I visited two towns in this area--Libertyville and Gurnee--I saw street after street of flood damage to homes and businesses. It was heartbreaking. I spoke with residents who were concerned about being able to recover from the flood and resulting damages and who voiced the need to find long-term solutions that will mitigate the impact of future flood events. One year later, I am still awed by the dedication of the local first responders and county officials. State and local employees and volunteers came out to help at every level, from county emergency management agencies to the American Red Cross. Representatives from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency worked closely with local officials to make sure communities had the resources needed to protect critical infrastructure and clean up when the water began to recede. People from all around the region pitched in to help their neighbors and even strangers protect property and get back on their feet. It has been challenging for Illinois to receive Federal aid after a disaster occurs.…”