CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- About a dozen lawmakers gathered on the West Side Saturday pushing for the federal government to help Chicago and suburban residents recover from recent flooding.
7th District Congressman Danny Davis said the Federal Emergency Management Agency should make a disaster declaration, but also told WBBM the long- term threats of climate change must also be addressed.
"Make every climate change effort to fight against...what could occur unless we are serious and we are careful and do those things that are possible."
Governor JB Pritzker has issued a disaster declaration for the flooded areas, eight counties in all.
Davis said the Austin neighborhood on the West Side was hit quite hard by recent flooding along with the Lawndale neighborhood and the western suburbs of Cicero and Berwyn where some residents got two feet of water in their homes.
"We really need FEMA," Davis said. "Many people lost everything, hot water heaters, refrigerators in the basement and so we're just urging and continuing to urge the federal government to declare this an emergency and unleash the FEMA resources."
A major disaster declaration from FEMA provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work.
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