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Rockford hit hard - Updated x1

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• Illinois

· Heavy rain, flooding turn civilians into heroes

Many civilians turned into heroes after flood waters trapped neighborhoods residents in their homes. Off 14th Street, dramatic scenes unfolded as rescue boats hauled in young children who were trapped in two-family homes nearby. Many of the parents sobbed as they embraced their children after they stepped on dry land. Neighbors crowded near the action, unprepared for the desperation they had just witnessed.

· More here.

It all started this afternoon when thousands were sent scrambling for high ground.

People were being rescued from their cars and homes across the east side of the city this afternoon as water several feet high rushed down city streets stranding motorists, filling basements, businesses and parks and creating havoc.

UPDATE: The governor’s press release:

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today offered state assistance to the Rockford area following severe flooding that struck Rockford and Winnebago County yesterday. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) also is sending personnel to the area to provide technical assistance to county officials as they assess the damage and determine if additional assistance is needed.

“Yesterday’s severe weather caused serious flooding in the Rockford area that forced many people from their homes,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is working closely with emergency management personnel in Rockford and Winnebago County to ensure that they receive any assistance needed to recover from this storm and the flooding it caused.”

In a letter to Rockford Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey and Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen today, Gov. Blagojevich assured the community leaders that the State of Illinois stands ready to provide assistance, including additional law enforcement support, damage assessment teams, assistance with victims whose homes are damaged ad need ongoing personal care, technical assistance from engineers with the Illinois Department of Transportation, and other assistance that may be determined necessary.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 5, 06 @ 2:09 am

Comments

1. When can we expect our checks? Or will the government be holding out on us again?

   Comment by Spoof Tuesday, Sep 5, 06 @ 6:20 am

2. My heart goes out to these folks. I heard something on the radio about flooding, but I was thinking the water in the basement type of flooding. I hope that public officials have learned something from their ignoring the Metro East and will at least make an effort to get to the area and offer some assistance.

   Comment by leigh Tuesday, Sep 5, 06 @ 6:41 am

3. I was there yesterday. Never saw anything like it in my life. It just kept raining and the water was beyond incredible. We saw a truck get stuck in an intersection, it’s back wheels stuck in a hole, and the water around it was at least 6 inches deep at that time. You couldn’t stop to try and help anyone.

   The restaurant we went to was even filling with water in one room and they were talking of sandbagging to try and keep water out - the water was several inches high inside.

   We saw several cars up to the roof in water and the roads were unpassable. Where we live, an hour a way, nothing. No rain whatsoever.

   Comment by Tessa Tuesday, Sep 5, 06 @ 6:46 am

4. The real question should be: “Where’s Gov. Poofery and how late will he be to the press conference?”

   Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Sep 5, 06 @ 6:55 am

5. And Blago’s on parade. Perhaps Calypso Louie can do a song about this or Kanye can go on a telethon and call out Blago.

   Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Sep 5, 06 @ 9:35 am

6. Mayor + city govt about to do a news conference 145p Tues; dozen homes condemned due to flooded cinder block basements; temporary relief center set up in vacated old school bldng. Pockets of SE portion of city were flooded due to lots of concrete, hilly parts of town and a LOT of rain within an hour that all ran downhill fast. No Governor [or word of] yet.

   Comment by North of I-80 Tuesday, Sep 5, 06 @ 1:47 pm

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