Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) have approved an Illinois Disaster Proclamation for the severe weather and flooding that affected St. Clair County and Washington County on July 25 and July 27. This declaration allows local entities access to state resources and emergency personnel who can assist in the response and recovery of these impacted communities.
"More than 100 residents in St. Clair County and Washington County have been displaced due to last week's torrential rain and flash flooding," said Governor JB Pritzker. "To support our affected communities in Southwestern Illinois, I have signed a disaster proclamation to mobilize every available resource to accelerate the recovery process and provide relief for our residents. I want to thank IEMA for their swift coordination and efficient response."
There are road closures and localized evacuations in St. Clair County, including some infrastructure challenges at the Nashville Reservoir in Washington County. A shelter has been setup in East St. Louis to house local residents as they continue to struggle to repair the damages from the flash flooding. It will be located at Mason Clark Middle School at 5510 State Street in East St. Louis, Illinois, 62203.
Other resources are being coordinated by IEMA to assist those affected, including a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) being planned for Saturday August 6 from 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 7 from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Center will be located at the East St. Louis High School at 4901 State Street in East St. Louis, Illinois, 62205. The MARC is designed to allow residents access to disaster related relief services and information to aide in the recovery process following a natural disaster or hazard.
"We are coordinating services and specialized resources from various state agencies including pumps and public safety equipment," said Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. "Our Recovery Division teams are evaluating the situation today with County Emergency Management Agencies as we assess continue to assess damages caused by flooding and high winds."
This emergency proclamation specifically covers St. Clair County, Illinois and Washington County, Illinois.
Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA)
Categories: Illinois, Government & Policy