The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced funds that would be released to the Village of DePue and to the City of Peru to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Last month, areas across the region that faced severe flooding and damages due to intense rains.
Specifically, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released $687,062 in Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) funds to the Village of DePue for the construction of a floodwall and floodwater storage basin to protect a wastewater treatment plant. FEMA has also released $365,428 in PDM funds to the City of Peru for the construction of a floodwall to protect the city’s east wastewater treatment plant.
The Pre-Disaster Mitigation program provides these grants to state and local governments, and allows communities to prepare infrastructures and other measures that would help reduce the risk of such damages and losses.
“This is a big deal for the region, especially those on the Illinois and Fox Rivers, and it shows the type of positive things that can happen when we team up and work together,” Rezin said. “I am confident we are better prepared now to prevent flood losses and respond better to floods than five years ago because of the Illinois Valley Flood Resiliency Alliance, and our efforts earlier this year during the flood event in February proved that. These federal dollars will help us go even further in our efforts to protect infrastructure, property, and save lives. Investing money on the front end will save money in the long run.”
Established in 2013, the Illinois Valley Flood Resiliency Alliance (IVFRA) brings together the local government, emergency personnel, and community leaders to prepare for and respond to floods in the community. Rezin established the IVFRA and worked hard to help secure these federal resources.
Following this announcement by FEMA, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) released the following statement:
“This announcement from FEMA is great news for the Illinois Valley, and a positive step in making our communities safer and better prepared for natural disasters. I’m proud to work with my colleague State Senator Sue Rezin and the Illinois Valley Flood Alliance in pushing for these necessary flood grants. The best thing we can do is to be prepared for when disaster strikes, and these funds will allow for constructions of floodwalls, floodwater storage basins, and better protection for our plants and facilities. I look forward to seeing these grants used efficiently and effectively, and for our continued work together on behalf of the region.”