The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied Illinois' request for disaster assistance for Harrisburg, Ridgeway and other communities in southern Illinois devastated by last month's deadly tornado.US Senator Dick Durbin says he was notified Sunday of FEMA's decision. Durbin says he will appeal because without the federal designation it will be much more difficult for storm victims and local governments to gain needed financial assistance.
The EF-4 Tornado that ripped through Saline and Gallatin Counties on February 29th resulted in seven deaths, dozens of businesses destroyed as well as hundreds of homes. In denying the request for federal assistance, FEMA officials say the destruction did not top $12-million, which is the threshold for Illinois to receive federal support. Durbin says he's never seen the level of destruction that he observed in the region. He says he and Senator Mark Kirk will appeal FEMA's decision.
