The city of Watseka and Coal City are among 55 local governments sharing $6.2 million dollars for long-term disaster planning and recovery.

Watseka and Coal City are each recipients of $100,000 for their Comprehensive Plans. Three communities in LaSalle County are also awarded monies for updates to their Comprehensive Plans. LaSalle, Ottawa and Marseilles (Mar-sales) are IKE recipients.

The funding is made available through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The program helps Illinois communities develop long-term disaster plans.

The “IKE” Disaster Recovery Planning program is named for Hurricane Ike, the 2008 disaster that ranks among the costliest hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S.

In partnership with the federal government, the DCEO grant awards allow communities to engage in comprehensive planning at the local and regional levels in order to guide long term recovery and redevelopment and to minimize future damage from natural disasters. Funds will support the development and adoption of forward-thinking community plans that reduce existing or future damage in disaster-risk areas.

The state Director, Adam Pollet, said "there's a great need for this kind of planning, especially in our small-and medium-sized communities where resources may be lacking."

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