Flood damage prompts St. Clair County to issue disaster proclamation
St. Clair County announced Thursday that it has issued a disaster proclamation due to the flooding caused by heavy rainfall on Tuesday.
Homes, streets and parks were flooded in some communities by the torrential rainstorm and a nursing home had to be evacuated in Caseyville after a levee was breached.
The declaration states over 90 water rescues have been conducted so far and additional rescues continued on Thursday.
No injuries have been reported in the county.
The declaration expires on Aug. 2. It was signed by St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern on Wednesday.
“Agencies throughout the county have been utilizing their resources to combat the flooding,” the declaration said.
Herb Simmons, director of the county’s Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday the county has sent pumps to help drain flooded areas in East St. Louis.
East St. Louis Mayor Robert Eastern III previously had declared a state of emergency in the city.
Some East St. Louis residents said Thursday they were still waiting for assistance from city officials.
Flooded homes and cars were also reported in Belleville, Cahokia Heights, Swansea, Caseyville and other areas across the county.
Simmons said a tally of the value of the damages caused by the flood in St. Clair County has not yet been calculated. He said the county expects to get a figure from the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
A representative from the United Way could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Kevin Sur, a spokesman for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said he did not have a storm damage total.
“Usually the first two weeks are allocated to rescue and the response side of it,” he said.
Sur said before the state can issue a disaster proclamation, impacted cities and counties must first do so.
If a state proclamation is made, it means the state has “the ability to expedite the use of state resources, personnel, or equipment, and allows the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to procure additional resources to help communities recover from the storms,” according to the state.
Sur said on Thursday that it is too early to say whether the state would declare a disaster in the metro-east.
“We’re working closely with our partners at the local and county level to best meet their needs in response and recovery,” Sur said.
Simmons noted that the county had two conference calls with state officials on Wednesday.
Sur gave these recommendations for homeowners with flooded homes:
▪ Take pictures of the damage, especially while the water is still in the house. This helps document the damage.
▪ Gather vital documents, such as birth certificates, Social Security cards and wills.
▪ Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
For residents whose home has not been damaged in a disaster, Sur recommends that you take photos of your home to keep on file so you can show officials how your home looked before a disaster.
This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 12:13 PM.
