FEMA TO MAKE EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO FAYVILLE LEVEE

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., told Alexander County officials and landowners Monday that emergency repairs will be made in the Len Small Levee District.

"The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has agreed to emergency repairs on the Fayville levee in order to protect homes and businesses," said Costello, who visited the area Monday along with FEMA inspectors.

A southern portion of the levee broke in July, flooding thousands of acres of farmland and heavily damaging roads and many structures.

Although the levee did not qualify for Corps of Engineers repairs, the Soil Conservation Services (SCS) agreed to make the repairs. But once the SCS completed the erosion control work, the organization was ordered to stop, with officials citing a new policy issued by the Interagency Task Force on Midwest Flood Recovery. That policy restricts SCS activities on levees along small drainages and limits federal funding for repair of private levees.

"We got hit by flooding again recently when heavy rains forced the Mississippi River past flood stage," said Greg Patton, who lost his home in the previous flood. "The latest flooding damaged road repairs and water pipeline work."

"We had repaired the majority of water lines in the flooded district," said Doris Maze, manager of the water district. "But some portions of the line were damaged with the new flooding."

Costello told a gathering here that Illinois can contract for emergency levee repair work under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Assistance Act and be reimbursed by FEMA for up to 90 percent of the cost, leaving the state to pick up 10 percent of the costs.

Costello said FEMA Director James Lee Witt had informed him earlier Monday that his agency had agreed to the emergency levee repair work on the 90-10 cost-share basis.

FEMA inspectors were at the levee site Monday with Illinois officials.

"They will assess the current levee repair needs and evaluate possibilities for further emergency rehabilitation protection of the levee," said Costello.