SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A new state report says that urban flooding in Illinois is most common in older parts of towns and has been made worse by urbanization and changes in climate.
The report released Tuesday by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said urban flooding created more than $2.3 billion in damages between 2007 and 2014. Much of the damage comes in areas with older storm water drainage systems.
The department said it is already working with other state agencies on some of the 33 recommendations made in its new report.
The report recommends, among other things, developing a model state stormwater ordinance for local communities to use and coordinating federal and state grant programs for flood mitigation and projects intended to alleviate problems in flood-prone areas.
