THE GREAT FLOOD OF '93 By WILLIAM T. SUNLEY, Engineer of Local Roads and Streets

We are all aware of the extensive flooding that has occurred along the Mississippi River. There was also extensive damage throughout a large area of the state caused by severe storms and torrential rains. Flash flooding occurred in northeastern Illinois. Flooding occurred on the Rock River and its tributaries and along the lower end of the Illinois River and its tributaries in west-central Illinois. Wind damage resulted from severe thunderstorms on June 4,1993 in the southernmost counties of the state. In all, forty-three counties have been declared state disaster areas by the governor as a result of damage from one or more of these incidents.

Many cities, counties, and townships along with the state have been busy fighting the flood for months, trying to protect their facilities and assisting other agencies, especially levee and drainage districts. Extensive efforts have been made to keep roads open to provide access for local residents and accessible routes for through traffic.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has assisted local agencies by hauling rock and sand. This material was used to reinforce levees and to fill sandbags. IDOT has also provided pumps to cities and levee districts. Temporary roadways were constructed to provide access to communities when other roads were flooded.

Efforts are now taking place to clean up the flood debris. IDOT has leased a giant shredding and compacting machine. The machine will handle up to 80 tons of flood debris an hour and reduce its bulk by as much as 70 percent. The compactor is being moved around the state to communities which were hard hit by the flood. Emergency repairs are being undertaken to get roads open to traffic. Other permanent restoration work is beginning.

Who is going to pay for all the flood fighting and repairs? Thirty-seven counties have been determined eligible for federal assistance for damage to public property from flooding and storms occurring between April 13, and August 31, 1993. In a few instances, the August 31 deadline may be extended. Two sources of available funds are the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

FEMA Disaster Assistance Program

Assistance to state and local governments from FEMA is available for debris clearance, protective measures and damage repair to public and certain non-profit facilities. Among these facilities are roads, buildings and equipment, water control facilities and public utility systems. Road repair projects must be located on roads functionally classified as local roads or rural minor collectors. These include most township roads, many city streets, and a few county highways.

An agency must submit a Notice of Interest to FEMA to request assistance. A federal/state/local team then inspects each damaged site, recommends a scope of eligible work, and prepares a cost estimate. For this disaster, federal reimbursement for the eligible work is 90 percent of the cost.

An agency must keep records to document all work done before inspection. The records should document labor costs, equipment rates, and material costs for each location.

FHWA Emergency Relief Program

Assistance from the FHWA is available for serious damage to roads functionally classified as arterial, rural major collector, and urban collector highways. This includes most county highways, major city streets, and a few township roads. The scope of the repairs must be beyond that normally performed during ordinary and occasionally heavy maintenance operations and the cost usually should exceed $3,000.00 per site.

The normal federal share of the cost is 80 percent. The local agency is responsible for the matching funds. However, emergency repairs to minimize damage, protect facilities and restore essential traffic which is accomplished within 180 days of the beginning of the incident period is eligible for 100 percent federal funding. FHWA and IDOT personnel along with the local agency conduct a detailed inspection of each site and make a recommendation on project eligibility.

Temporary operations, emergency repairs, and preliminary engineering for the permanent restoration may proceed without prior authorization. An agency must keep records to document all emergency work. Permanent restoration work cannot be performed prior to FHWA authorization.

While you may not all have been affected by the disasters this year, it is important that you are prepared in case one occurs in your jurisdiction in the future. Know the name of the emergency coordinator in your county. Be familiar with the county's disaster plan. Most importantly, if an emergency occurs and you incur expenses, keep detailed records of your activities including location, manpower, equipment usage, and material costs. This could keep you from losing federal funds to which you are entitled. •

November 1993 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 5