Dick Durbin Statement on Illinois Flooding on Senate Floor

June 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – After traveling to several Illinois communities to assess storm damage and help with flood preparations, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today went to the floor of the Senate to commend the residents, volunteers, emergency workers and more than 400 members of the Illinois National Guard who are working to brace Illinois for the floodwaters.

Senator Durbin also spoke of the need for federal help as the resources in the state can not absorb the severity of the flood.

On Friday, Durbin and Barack Obama (D-IL) were joined today by members of the Illinois Delegation in asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide immediate assistance to help the State of Illinois prepare for the anticipated flooding of the Mississippi River and other waterways. Members signing on to the letter included Representatives Melissa Bean (D-IL), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), Phil Hare (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Ray LaHood (R-IL), Don Manzullo (R-IL), Peter Roskam (R-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL).

Durbin’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery, appear below:

Senator Richard J. Durbin
June 16, 2008

Flooding in Illinois

Our colleagues from Iowa and Minnesota have spoken movingly about the devastation their states have suffered as a result of the massive flooding in the Midwest. The floods also have also taken a terrible toll on Wisconsin.

Across the Upper Midwest, tens of thousands of our fellow Americans have suffered staggering losses and need help, and our government needs to be there for them.

In my state of Illinois, those same floods that have devastated our northern neighbors are now headed our way. We are in a race against time and nature.

The Mississippi River, the mightiest river in North America, is already above flood levels at many communities and rising fast. IT is not expected to crest until late this week.

There are fears that the flooding along the Mississippi in Illinois could reach the historic levels we experienced during the Great Flood of 1993.

That was one of the costliest and most devastating natural disasters ever to hit the United States. More than 50 people died and thousands were forced to evacuate their homes as hundreds of failed levees up and down the Mississippi failed. The economic damage exceeded $15 billion.

That was supposed to be a 500-year flood. Yet, 15 years later, it appears we could be on the verge of a similar disaster.

Often, weather-related disasters give us no warning. They strike in an instant.

This is different. We can see this crisis coming.

Illinoisans are working as fast and hard as we can to try to prepare for the worst, and minimize the damage.

Last Friday, I was in Quincy and Grafton, Illinois. Senator Obama was in Quincy on Saturday. In those cities and in towns up and down the Mississippi River, people are filling sandbags and fortifying levees.

I want to commend all of the residents, volunteers, emergency workers and more than 400 members of the Illinois National Guard who are working to brace our state for the floodwaters. Many people worked around the clock.

I also want to commend FEMA, which is coordinating the disaster response, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Over the weekend, two levees in our state – in the towns of Carman and in Keithsburg -- failed. Hundreds of residents in those towns have left their homes.

Another levee broke last week in the town of Lawrenceville, leaving residents there stranded without running water.

Flood waters are starting to seep into other towns along the river. And heavy rains are still falling north of us, pushing the river higher by the day.

Our Governor has already declared 15 counties in Illinois state disaster areas.

Last Friday, Governor Blagojevich wrote to President Bush and asked him to pre-emptively declare a number of Mississippi River counties federal disaster areas.

One of the towns that is preparing for the worst is Quincy, where the river is expected to crest at 32 feet later this week.

I was in Quincy on Friday, where volunteers, emergency workers, National Guard members – even state prisoners – were working side-by-side to fill sandbags. I joined in the effort.

Senator Obama was also in Quincy over the weekend.

Volunteers continued to work through Father’s Day.

These volunteers are demonstrating amazing spirit. A flood is a devastating prospect to face, but these folks have responded with resolve and determination. Their work may save homes and businesses, and even lives. Every sandbag that is filled may make it that much easier for communities to get back on their feet when the flood waters recede.

State and local leaders in Illinois are also working around the clock, to prepare for the worst.

But we know, from looking at our neighboring states, that the severity of this flood will be more than the people of Illinois, alone, can absorb.

The magnitude of this disaster will require action from the federal government. Senator Obama and I will be working with the Illinois Congressional Delegation and our other Senate colleagues to ensure the communities and people affected do not face this disaster alone. America will stand with them.

Source: Senator Dick Durbin

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