State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, issued the following statement Thursday after receiving word that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied Illinois’ request for flood assistance:
“I think it is absolutely ridiculous that we were denied assistance from FEMA for the flooding in Alexander and Jackson County that hit us in January. There are people financially and emotionally hurting from the flood and the assistance from FEMA could have done a lot in aiding them. The minimum damage of $18-million-dollar threshold unfairly punishes us and smaller communities.
“FEMA claims that the state is able to financially take care of the damage, but I haven’t seen any of the money to help Southern Illinois. This is just another example of our region getting looked over by Washington D.C. politicians and bureaucrats. I’m sick and tired of it, and I will be working to find other ways to provide those good people the relief they need to get back on their feet. I am going to keep fighting to get this funding to the people who need it.”
