WBEZ: Quigley locks down $35 million for local reservoirs

Below is a transcript of a report that first appeared on WBEZ on June 26, 2013:

Reporter: Speaking of rain, Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley now has $35 million to build reservoirs in Cook County. A lot of his constituents have had to deal with flooding over the past two years:

"What I saw when I walked there, during the rain and the days afterwards, was people who lost everything. I saw basements that were flooded to the first view feet of the first floor.

The money will go towards the McCook and Thorton reservoirs and once they're in place, they'll help keep sewage out of basements. The $35 million from the federal government is a drop in the bucket. Both projects are expected to cost $1.3 billion over time. Thorton reservoir is expected to be finished first in two years, and Cook should be complete in 2029.