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* We’re expecting a crest today, so there will be no rest for the weary…
Emergency crews are working on and keeping a close eye on a 52-mile levee along the Mississippi River near Quincy.
Officials with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency say National Guardsmen, prison inmates and others continue to sandbag the Sny levee. They say workers are also using a bulldozer to push the base of the levee to make it higher.
IEMA spokeswoman Patti Thompson says the levee is expected to crest Monday or Tuesday. She says crews will remain at the levee after it crests to make sure it holds.
* The Quincy Pundit points to some posts about what happens to sandbags after the flood passes
* While sandbaggers work, the governor’s office continues to try and link the flooding to the capital bill…
“These floods are causing extensive economic and physical damage to areas of our state,” said spokeswoman Kelley Quinn. “Now, more than ever, it’s important to pass a capital bill — a comprehensive plan that would not only put people to work, but fix our roads and bridges.”
* Same article, very next paragraph, …
The state might end up helping individual communities back on their feet financially but those dollars probably won’t be added to the capital program, said Marcelyn Love, spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources.
* The AP points out the obvious political advantages to “Flood Week”…
The floods that have devastated the Midwest couldn’t have come at a politically better time for Blagojevich. After months of staying mostly out of public view, the governor has spent the week touring flood-ravaged areas and lobbying for relief for homeowners, businesses and communities.
* Aaron Chambers asks, “Will the great flood of 2008 save Rod Blagojevich’s political career?” No…
It’s doubtful, given the Illinois governor’s extreme unpopularity (his popularity rating neared 13 percent in recent months) and his ongoing troubles (continuing federal probe of his administration, talk about possible impeachment and his fundamental difficulty with managing state government).
* Related…
* Illinois Farm Bureau Flooding Google Map, Photos
* Flood of 2008: Help is on the way
* Flood of 2008: River levels still falling
* Flood of 2008: Hundreds attend Red Cross picnic
* Forecaster: End is near to Mississippi River rise
* No rest for weary on levees as battle against river rages
* Crews keep working at Sny levee, south of Quincy
* Farmers express frustrations, concerns to Corps of Engineers leader
* Corn falls as dry weather expected in Midwest
* Animals from flood-soaked river bottoms find home at Adams County Fairgrounds
* Photos of the Week: June 16 - 22, 2008
* Two 500-Year Floods Within 15 Years: What are the Odds?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 1:45 pm
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Wow…acting like a leader actually helps Blago in the polls. What’s he thinking?
Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 1:54 pm
Blago is coming back to the Metro East AGAIN, this time to sign the levee funding bill? Cheez….we’re getting tired of the guy down here!
Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 2:17 pm
Are floods officially non-news now?
Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 2:27 pm
Unless they’re talking about specific flood control projects in a capital bill, it’s vulgar to link it’s passage to the current emergency.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 2:30 pm
The “big” media may move on, but we’re going to keep watching for a while.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 2:31 pm
== The state might end up helping individual communities back on their feet financially but those dollars probably won’t be added to the capital program, said Marcelyn Love, spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources. ==
What does that even mean? Love is acknoledging that the governor is using the flood to build support for a capital plan, but that a capital plan won’t help those flooded communities?
Where will those dollars come from then, the operating budget?
Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 2:55 pm
Why the heck is the DNR spokesperson speaking for the Gov on the capital plan?
Comment by Leave a light on George Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 3:17 pm
Everyone else is leaving…
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 4:07 pm
Where is the new BoyToy? How come he’s not esplainin’ how to take this positve disaster coverage and muff it with the lame babble about capital. Perhaps they cite the page and line of the bill with the project specific. Opps BoyToy-G don’t do no page/line.
Comment by Anon Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 4:08 pm
Was Governor Blago really at the flood sites on Friday, the rumor was he missed the Obama meetings because he had Cub vs Sox tickets.
Comment by anon Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 4:48 pm
Did anyone else notice Blago signed the bill on 5-21?
Governor to sign bill to create sales tax to repair aging levees
News-Democrat
EAST ALTON — Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be in the metro-east today to sign a bill allowing river counties to enact a sales tax to pay for levee repairs.
Using the flood-swollen Mississippi River as a backdrop, Blagojevich will sign the bill at the Mel Price Lock and Dam in East Alton at 2:30 p.m. The new law allows metro-east counties to impose a quarter-cent sales tax to improve Mississippi River levees. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton.
Check out PA95-0719
Comment by Anon Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 5:18 pm
Anon 5:18pm:
Good point on the sales tax bill for levees. If the floods are tied to the capital bill, then why will Madison, St. Clair and Monroe County taxpayers be footing the bill for the $180 million in levee improvements via a 1/4-cent sales tax?
Comment by Madison County Watcher Monday, Jun 23, 08 @ 9:48 pm