Tornado-Damaged Areas Might Not Qualify for Federal Disaster Aid

John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is worried Illinois will miss out again on federal disaster relief for tornado damage.

Durbin says he has been in contact with officials in DeKalb and Ogle Counties since last week's tornadoes, keeping them informed on the possibility of getting aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He's not optimistic about the request being approved.

"I warned them in advance that we have been heartbroken in Washington, Ill. and Harrisburg, Ill., when we didn't qualify under the federal formula. That formula is not a good one for our state because of the large population in Chicago as part of the calculation."

Durbin says in other states, rural communities like those affected by the recent tornadoes would qualify. That's why Durbin and U.S. Sen. Mark S. Kirk (R-Ill.) are backing legislation to change the FEMA formula. That proposed change has failed twice before in Congress.