Southwest Illinois Seeks Senator’s Help in Flood Mapping

July 9, 2009

Leaders in southwestern Illinois hope the state’s senior U.S. senator gets the region another delay in the publication of newly drawn Mississippi River flood maps.

Once completed, the new Federal Emergency Management Agency maps are expected to produce a dramatic increase in the size of the flood plain and the cost of mandatory flood insurance. That would affect an estimated 150,000 Illinoisans.

Preliminary maps for Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties already exist. Their final maps are expected to be adopted in August 2010, at least three years earlier than expected.

While frustrated by FEMA’s accelerated flood map schedule, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin stopped short of promising to seek another delay in Illinois’ deadline.

Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, www.bnd.com

Topics Flood Illinois

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