Senators Durbin, Obama Call on President to Provide Federal Relief for Eight Illinois Counties

February 26, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) were joined by members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today in requesting that President Bush declare eight Illinois counties - Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago - federal snow emergency areas. Members signing on to today's letter include Representatives Melissa Bean (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Don Manzullo (R-IL).

"We write to support Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's request to declare eight counties in northern Illinois snow emergency areas as a result of heavy snowfall on February 5 and 6," the Illinois members wrote. "A harsh winter has exhausted the resources of many of the local governments affected by this most recent storm. We respectfully request that you make the necessary declaration so that the residents of these eight counties can receive federal snow assistance to recover from the snowstorms as quickly as possible."

If the request is approved, governmental bodies in the affected counties would be eligible for reimbursement of 75 percent of overtime labor costs for snow removal during a 48-hour period, as well as overtime costs for emergency personnel directly related to the snow removal efforts. Earlier today Governor Blagojevich declared the eight counties in northern Illinois state disaster areas as a result of heavy snowfall this month that resulted in road closures, school closings, hazardous road conditions, and the depletion of state and local snow removal resources.

text of the letter below

February 26, 2008

The Honorable George W. Bush
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We write to support Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's request to declare eight counties in northern Illinois snow emergency areas as a result of heavy snowfall on February 5 and 6. Governor Blagojevich has already declared these counties state disaster areas.

Eight impacted counties - Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago - suffered major damage as a result of a severe winter storm that moved east through northern Illinois earlier this month. The storms produced one, two, or three-day record, as well as near-record, snowfall. Effects of the storm included road closures, school closings, hazardous road conditions, and the depletion of state and local snow removal resources. Many of these counties also experienced record or near-record snowfall in December 2006.

A harsh winter has exhausted the resources of many of the local governments affected by this most recent storm. We respectfully request that you make the necessary declaration so that the residents of these eight counties can receive federal snow assistance to recover from the snowstorms as quickly as possible. We thank you in advance for your timely consideration of this important request and stand ready to assist in any way appropriate.

Sincerely,

Richard Durbin
United States Senator

Barack Obama
United States Senator

Source: Senator Barack Obama

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