Will County Declared Disaster Area

After the April 17-18 deluge and flash flooding, Will County has been declared a disaster area by Gov. Pat Quinn. The Will County Emergency Management Agency website reveals that the State of Illinois and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are coordinating efforts to "develop a damage assessment of the flood in Will County."

Municipal officials from the Lincoln-Way communities of New Lenox, Mokena and Frankfort are available for assistance in filling out the necessary flood damage survey. However, the timeline for filling out the survey on flood damage is short-lived. The deadline for survey submissions is noon Wednesday, April 24.  

Visit the Will County EMA here to fill out the flood relief questionnaire.

A statement on the Will County EMA site reads: "Please note that providing flood damage information through this form does not mean an individual or business is filing a flood damage claim with any agency and does not guarantee any government or insurance benefits." Any additional information regarding disaster relief funds and an application process for those funds would be posted on the Will County EMA webpage if funds become available.  

The purpose of the survey is to gather a damage assessment for submission to

"State authorities to better the chances of Illinois receiving federal disaster assistance."

Frankfort's Assistant Village Administrator Rob Piscia welcomes questions about the flooding survey. For assistance, call 815-469-2177.

Mokena residents can fill out the survey at Village Hall, 11004 Carpenter St. The Village's Public Works Director Lou Tiberi advised residents with questions to call Village Hall and ask for Mary Ann D'Antonio at 708-479-3900.  

In New Lenox, Dan Martin, public safety division chief at New Lenox Police Department, recommends that residents fill out the online form at the Will County EMA site or call the Flood Hotline at 815-740-4399. In the immediacy, however, he noted that flood clean-up kits are available at the New Lenox Police Department.  He anticipates getting more kits later in the week.

Reflecting on the recent flooding event, Kirk Zoellner, assistant village administrator for the Village of Mokena, said, "We got off pretty easily in comparison to the communities around us."  

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• Flood Clean-Up Kits Free at New Lenox Police Department

• Will County Green Offers Flood Clean-Up Tips