Officials in Midwest seek Federal aid after August storms
Flooding concerns continue to plague states in the Midwest after the latest round of high winds, tornadoes and heavy rain in late August. Some state officials are seeking federal aid to help homeowners and businesses get back on their feet.
In Illinois on Thursday, Aug. 24th, the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago experienced winds of 75 miles per hour. Heavy rains socked the suburbs of Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Glenview, Wilmette and Winnetka as well as the northwest side of Chicago. In addition to flooding, many homeowners were without electricity for more than four days.
In Ohio President Bush declared two more northwest counties major disaster areas, making more federal assistance available to residents and business owners in communities inundated by powerful storms and record flooding. Hardin and Seneca counties join Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Putnam, Richland and Wyandot counties, which were declared disaster areas Aug. 27, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.
In Iowa, Gov. Chet Culver has requested federal aid for flood damage that occurred last month in northern and southern Iowa. Culver sent a letter to President Bush seeking a Presidential Disaster Declaration, which would allow Iowa to use an estimated $10.7 million in federal funds to repair homes, businesses, and other property damaged by storms that began Aug. 17.
Culver requested statewide assistance for debris removal, and assistance in more than a dozen counties to repair infrastructure and offer loans, counseling and other help.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, also sent a letter to Bush on asking for prompt assistance.
Culver has asked for household assistance for the following counties: Allamakee, Appanoose, Boone, Calhoun, Clarke, Davis, Humboldt, Mahaska, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne, and Webster.
In Michigan, Gov. Jennifer Granholm requested federal disaster assistance for farmers in all 83 Michigan counties who face fruit, vegetable and field crop losses because of spring frost and freeze and the summer drought.
From April 4 to June 13, the following 29 counties experienced frost conditions that particularly affected fruit and vegetable production: Alger, Allegan, Antrim, Benzie, Berrien, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Delta, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Leelanau, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, Jackson, Oceana, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Schoolcraft and Van Buren.
Since April 1, drought conditions have devastated yields of corn, soybeans and other drought-sensitive crops in all 83 counties, Granholm said in a statement.
The Associated Press news accounts contributed to this article.
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