Tell village about your storm damage

Elk Grove Village wants its residents and businesses to report storm damage in order to help the village qualify for federal funding.

If you've got dead trees in your yard or your basement has flooded due to last week's storm, the village wants to hear from you by Wednesday.

It's all for federal money that the village, residents and businesses could recoup, if part of Elk Grove Village is found to be eligible for disaster funds, village officials said.

The northern residential areas in Elk Grove Village were clobbered by the storm, which killed about 150 parkway trees and damaged at least 300 more.

At $500 per tree, it'll cost the village at least $75,000 to replace the trees, said Matt Roan, assistant village manager.

That number doesn't include residential and business trees that were destroyed. Residential areas got the most tree damage because the village's business park has fewer mature trees, Roan said.

In order to get financial assistance, the village needs to inform the Illinois Emergency Management Agency about the full extent of the damage.

The agency will then send that information to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has the power to declare parts of Elk Grove eligible for funds, Roan said.

And it's not just tree damage. The village is asking for home damage as well.

"If (residents) have flooded basements because the power and sump pump went out, they should fill (the form) out," Roan said. "It's for everyone. It's just to get an idea of the extent of the damage."

The deadline to report damage is Wednesday.

Forms have been placed on the village's Web site at www.elkgrove.org. In addition, blank forms are available at village hall, 901 Wellington Ave., and the Elk Grove Library, 1001 Wellington Ave.

Resident and business owners may e-mail their results to stormdamage@elkgrove.org or call (847) 734-8012, during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to have a village employee assist callers with the survey.