HR1552 LRB095 22672 GRL 53080 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Record-breaking rainfall from September 12, 2008
3 to September 14, 2008 caused widespread property damage to
4 homeowners and owners of commercial and industrial property
5 throughout Illinois, including the greater Chicago area; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Current federal law requires the State of
7 Illinois' designated coordinator of emergency support
8 services, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), to
9 complete a preliminary damage assessment before an application
10 can be made to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
11 to have affected Illinois counties declared federal disaster
12 areas; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The declaration by FEMA that an affected area is a
14 federal disaster area is a necessary triggering event that must
15 take place if the individuals and businesses that have suffered
16 flooding damage are to be eligible for federal disaster
17 assistance; and
 
18     WHEREAS, The preliminary damage assessment has been
19 completed by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and a
20 letter was sent by Governor Rod Blagojevich relaying the
21 findings of that assessment and asking the President of the
22 United States to declare the damaged counties as federal

 

 

HR1552 - 2 - LRB095 22672 GRL 53080 r

1 disaster areas on September 24, 2008; and
 
2     WHEREAS, As damage repairs continue at the expense of those
3 persons affected by loss, it becomes more difficult for
4 potential federal aid to "make whole" those individuals who
5 have suffered a loss; therefore, be it
 
6     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8 urge the President of the United States to declare the affected
9 Illinois counties as federal disaster areas; and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11 presented to the President of the United States.