McHenry County Declared a Disaster Area

Due to the heavy rains and flooding that have pounded the area the past two days, McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill on Thursday issued a proclamation declaring the county a disaster area.

Hill's declaration allows the state to provide assets for assistance to the county. The proclamation is effective through Wednesday, April 24, 2013, unless extended by the McHenry County Board, according to a county press release.

Hill's actions came after the Illinois Department of Natural Resources declared the flood of April 16-18, 2013, to be "a flood of record."

River projections have exceeded previous estimates by over two feet.  All McHenry County river front communities are in a state of emergency, McHenry County spokeswoman Debra Quackenbush said in the release.

The director of McHenry County’s Emergency Management Agency has been instructed to "proceed with haste" to bring the emergency disaster to a rapid conclusion for all McHenry County residents, pursuant to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act and the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency ordinance, the release stated.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency may also seek a declaration from Gov. Pat Quinn, which would pave the way for a request of Federal Assistance through a Presidential Disaster Declaration, the release stated.