Dick Durbin: “I have represented Quincy, IL, and Adams County since coming to Congress in 1983 as a Member of the House of…”

“I have represented Quincy, IL, and Adams County since coming to Congress in 1983 as a Member of the House of Representatives. I have found that there is something special about the Gem City--its people, its strong sense of community, and the fighting spirit to tackle any crisis from floods to storms. That spirit was tested this week. I am relieved and thankful that there were no serious injuries or fatalities after a major storm tore through Quincy on Monday night. Torrential rain and winds up to 74 miles per hour felled trees, broke dozens of utility poles, and tore roofs off several homes and businesses during the event. The Quincy mayor declared a citywide state of emergency Monday evening and Adams County followed with a state of disaster declaration. Several people say the battered city looked like a warzone. More than 21,000 people were without power on Monday night and Tuesday. Crews have worked around the clock to restore electricity to most. Due to the loss of power, many stoplights were out throughout the city. Between the outages, flooded streets, and streets made impassable by fallen trees, navigating Quincy has been a challenge. The Quincy Park District estimates that the ``jaw dropping'' damage to the city's 29 parks--especially Madison and South Parks--far exceeds the devastation from severe storms in 2011 that costs the District more than $400,000.…”