By Brad Palmer
Lawrenceville, IL – AN AREA LAWMAKER SAYS HE AND OTHERS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO ASSIST THOSE AFFECTED BY FLOODING IN SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID REIS OF OLNEY SAYS HE SYMPATHIZES WITH THOSE DISPLACED BY THE RISING WATER.
BUT HE SAYS THIS IS ALSO A MAJOR AGRICULTURAL ISSUE.
REIS SAYS HE IS WORKING WITH STATE SENATOR JOHN O. JONES AND CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
YESTERDAY (Tues), GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH DECLARED CLARK, COLES, CRAWFORD, CUMBERLAND, JASPER AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES STATE DISASTER AREAS DUE TO WIDESPREAD FLOODING AND SEVERE STORMS THAT HAVE FORCED EVACUATIONS AND CLOSED ROADWAYS.
LEVEE BREAKS YESTERDAY (Tues) FLOODED PORTIONS OF LAWRENCE COUNTY NEAR LAWRENCEVILLE, INUNDATING A CAMPSITE AND FORCING THE EVACUATIONS OF ROUGHLY 200 HOMES.
STATE OFFICIALS ARE ON SITE TO ASSIST LOCAL RESPONDERS WITH RELIEF EFFORTS.