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Officials Announce Flood Relief for Graue Mill

June 5, 2014

HINSDALE – Federal, state, county and local officials joined residents of Graue Mill on Thursday to announce the award of a long-sought flood mitigation grant for the neighborhood. On May 30, the Illinois General Assembly approved a grant to help pay for a stormwater mitigation project that will protect the neighborhood from future flood waters.

Floods have twice devastated the area since 2010, forcing the evacuation of most of Graue Mill's 243 residences and causing millions of dollars in damage. The $3.4 million project includes the construction of berms, flood gates, upgraded pumps and other water management improvements.

U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) secured a $2.75 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The federal grant will pay for 75 percent of the project. DuPage County and Deputy House Minority Leader Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale), worked together to secure a state grant through the Department of Natural Resources for $626,438. The remaining balance is expected to be paid for through contributions made by the residents through their homeowner's association fee and the Village of Hinsdale.

"Funding for this project is not only an important step for the residents of Graue Mill but a critical reminder of the necessity of smart planning and cooperation," said Rep. Quigley. "The Graue Mill project underscores the importance of working together – at the local, state and federal levels – to address the complex challenges we face due to climate change." Since coming to Congress in 2009, Quigley has advocated a regional approach to flood control as well as sought to address inequities in the federal formula used to award disaster relief to more populous states.

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2014.06.05 Graue Mill

Rep. Quigley announced Graue Mill has secured a $2.75 million FEMA grant to provide flood relief in the area.

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Rep. Quigley assessed flood damage at Graue Mill after the April 2013 flood.

Bellock, who led the effort to secure state funding for the local match, said the completion of the grant award is "a credit to the residents of Graue Mill and the community-led effort that made it possible. Working in partnership with federal, state, county and municipal officials, we're now able to bring long-sought relief to these local residents."

"We are committed to working with our regional partners to make a difference in the lives of families still recovering from the damage left by these floods," said DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin,who was instrumental in helping to secure the local match. "The Graue Mill Flood Mitigation Project is an important step as we work to provide flood prevention and water management to residents living in this part of DuPage County."

DuPage County Stormwater Management Planning Committee Chairman Jim Zay added "The residents in the Graue Mill neighborhood have seen a lot of hardships because of multiple flooding events, most notably in 2010 and 2013. The community as a whole worked hard to secure funding for flood control improvements, and we look forward to working with them to see the project through."

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