Quigley: $35 Million for Reservoirs Will Ease Cook County Flooding

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) announced the allocation of $35 million in the FY 2013 federal budget toward the completion of the McCook and Thornton Reservoir—two key projects in the on-going effort to ease flooding in Cook County.

"As we saw in April, hundred year storms are now occurring every few years, flooding thousands of residents and businesses throughout Cook County and costing millions of dollars,'' said Quigley. "This funding represents a major step in getting Thornton and McCook ready to help alleviate the flooding that's become too common and too costly."

Part of the Metropolitan Water and Reclamation District's Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, the two reservoirs--when completed-- will hold billions of gallons of storm water and save businesses and residents hundreds of millions of dollars in flood damage. The project will also continue the improvements seen in the water quality of local rivers.

As a Cook County Commissioner and now as a member of Congress, Quigley has been an outspoken advocate for the completion of flood control measures such as the McCook and Thornton Reservoirs. With portions of his 5th Congressional District twice devastated by flooding in the past three years, Quigley has also actively called for revising the process of awarding federal aid to disaster-afflicted communities.