President Obama signed a disaster declaration for Cook and DuPage counties and other parts of Illinois that were damaged by severe storms and flooding in late July and early August, according to a news release from the White House. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals to supplement state and local recovery efforts in Carroll, Cook, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties, according to the release.  According to the release, "assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster."
 
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance Friday by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired, according to the release. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.   For additional information, please view the FEMA Factsheet or refer to the www.protectdupage.org website for future updates.  (Source: www.protectdupage.org website).

The Village’s contractor Clarke Environmental conducted a Village-wide mosquito truck spray for adult mosquitoes at night on August 18, 2010.  The treatment was aimed at reducing adult mosquito populations and was coordinated with similar sprays in Downers Grove and several nearby communities.

This is the typical time of the year when West Nile virus starts to be found and the DuPage County Department of Public Health has advised that it has been identified in mosquito traps across the county and twenty five counties in Illinois.  There have not been any human cases in the State according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The Village and Clarke Environmental will be continuing with the integrated pest management approach that includes surveillance, larviciding, education, and adulticiding when needed, to in order to help reduce and control the mosquito population.  Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm or people can call the West Nile Virus Hotline at 866-369-9710 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.