Iroquois County is determined to get the wheels in motion for dealing with floods. And a meeting Tuesday in Watseka had a focus on prevention and mitigation.

City leaders met with FEMA, IEMA, IDNR, the Army Corp of Engineers and state legislators to find future direction on flood prevention and mitigation.

Mayor John Allhands said the community input is vital in making sure all avenues are pursued. Watseka and Iroquois County has a history of flooding. And, history buffs know all too well how the negative effects of the floods have been trying on way too many people.

Years of frustration is gearing people to find solutions.

A proposed study carries a $200,000 price-tag. There’s a cost share of 35% for the city and 65% for the federal government. Should federal help not materialize, however, the city would be looking at the 100% cost.

Allhands says any financial help from FEMA w\ll depend on the Disaster Declaration application.

“We looked into the process. Now, we rely on the outside help to make it all work,” Allhands said. “The application is on file. History tells us it’s not easy to get the help we need.”

Governor Bruce Rauner declared Iroquois, Kankakee and Vermilion counties disaster areas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agreed to take another look after initial damage assessments were completed showing 200 home affected by the flood. There were 100 homes substantially damaged and one destroyed.

The mayor said the 2008 flood had greater impact statewide. This flood damage was concentrated in east-central counties. The Army Corp of Engineers indicated that any mitigation effort, based on the federal declaration, could take up to five years before any work begins.

The meeting’s finding also indicated an Illinois Department of Natural Resource grant could be more immediate.

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