Governor Bruce Rauner announced today (Friday) that he has submitted a request for U.S. Small Business Administration Assistance to help people and businesses in Christian and Iroquois counties recover from the severe storms and flooding that impacted the area in late December. Patti Thompson, Communications Manager for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), told Regional Radio News, it may be as soon as next week if the request is approved for people and businesses to apply for low-interest, long-term loans.

Thompson noted IEMA will work with FEMA to review additional local government expenses related to the disaster that were recently submitted by eight counties.

The eight counties are Alexander, Calhoun, Cass, Clark, Madison, Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair. The state of Illinois requested federal assistance through FEMA to help people recover from the floods, but that request was denied on March 10.