Governor Bruce Rauner
Governor Bruce Rauner

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has asked the federal government to approve disaster assistance for property owners and local governments damaged by early-winter floods.

The governor’s office said Friday that it’s seeking individual assistance for residents and business owners in Alexander, Christian, Clinton, Douglas, Iroquois, Jersey, Madison, Randolph, Sangamon and St. Clair counties.

Rauner also wants federal public assistance for local governments in five of those counties as well as 11 others.

State and federal assessments determined that nearly 700 homes that were damaged in the late December and early January floods.

Public expenses and damages totaled more than $15 million. That amount falls short of the federal Emergency Management Agency threshold for reimbursement, but Rauner said the determination should include consideration of local government costs from previous storm damage.

 

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