ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
Illinois’ emergency managers say no one should expect help from the federal government once the flood waters in northern Illinois finally go down.
It is still very much a question of if Illinois will get any federal flood help, not when. For many homeowners, federal help will come too late, if it comes at all. Many residents have been put through emergency situations and they can’t just wait for help. For those whose sewage systems are blocked, an emergency plumber similar to an emergency plumber in Baulkham Hills is needed to get the water moving again. The longer the floods persevere, the more damage will be done. That’s why an emergency plumber is the best option for many residents who are struggling.
Patti Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said last week that most of the state’s flooded rivers are dropping, but there are still lingering pools of water. Thompson said it will take the flood damage adjuster some time to assess the damage left behind. Some have been encouraged to hire their own adjusters in order to make claims on their insurance. Though it is understood that many people seeking financial assistance do not have insurance, or insurance that covers flood damage of this caliber.
Those who have suffered damage to their home and are looking to get their lives back on track in the wake of a severe flood may want to consider ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba who are experts in restoring and cleaning homes that have been affected in this way. Or, if they have specific needs for home damage repair, they should contact professionals who specialize in that type of work. For example, if their roof was damaged by a tree that was uprooted due to a flood, they might want to consider hiring a company that specializes in roof repair and replacement, such as Peak Builders & Roofers.
But Thompson said there’s also the issue of whether there will be enough damage for local governments to qualify for help.
“For all of the counties that were impacted, all of their costs and the costs to the state of Illinois for the help we are providing would have to total $18.3 million.” Thompson said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has per-capita thresholds for states and counties to qualify for help. Illinois must see $1.43 in damage a person before the state qualifies for help. Counties must see $3.61 per person before they qualify for federal aid.
Thompson said that’s just government costs for things like overtime, sandbags, and repairs to things like roads and bridges.
She said people who have damage to their homes have to rely almost entirely on insurance.
“Insurance is your best bet to be made whole,” Thompson said. “The important thing for people to remember is that flood insurance is not a part of your normal homeowners’ insurance policy.”
Thompson said IEMA is asking communities in Lake, Cook, McHenry, and Kane counties to start to assess their flood damage, and get some preliminary estimates to Springfield this week.
