Saline and Gallatin counties are among several in Southern Illinois receiving federal assistance to help in recovery from the May 8 wind storms.
In addition to Saline and Gallatin counties, the federal disaster declaration extends to Franklin, Jackson, Randolph and Williamson counties, which were also hard hit on May 8.
The declaration will enable local governments and electric cooperatives to recover 75 percent of their extraordinary costs related to storm response and recovery, according to a news release from Gov. Pat Quinn.
About 560 homes were damaged in the region hit hardest by the storms. Of those 560 homes, 69 were destroyed and 191 were uninhabitable without major repairs, according to an assessment by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
"This federal declaration is welcome news for local governments that incurred extraordinary costs responding to and recovering from that vicious storm," Quinn said in the news release. "While I am very pleased help is on the way for local governments, I'm very concerned about people who are still struggling to put their lives back together following the storm. We will continue to pursue assistance for the hundred of people and businesses who suffered losses due to the storm."
The storm left thousands without power for several days. The village of Galatia was hit hardest in Saline County. The village and its surrounding area were without power for several days, limbs and trees were down everywhere and several houses sustained serious damage.
