{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=39f0388f-3e37-44d7-97f1-904ebfd1a40d", "Durbin Tours Gifford Tornado Damage", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.13\n\t\t\t Durbin Tours Gifford Tornado Damage \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senator Urges Storm Victims to Register For Federal Disaster Assistance\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t [GIFFORD, IL] \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Gifford to take a firsthand look at the damage from last month\u2019s tornado and get an update on the recovery efforts from IEMA.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe tornado damage that I saw firsthand here in Gifford and last month in Washington is some of the worst I have ever seen,\u201d Durbin said.\u00a0 \u201cThe rebuilding process will be a lengthy one, but I wanted to come to Gifford today to see that recovery in action and learn what more I can do to help.\u00a0 President Obama has approved federal assistance to help storm victims in Champaign County, and I urge the people of Gifford to contact my office if they need help accessing that aid.\u00a0 As bad as things may seem, I know a year from now we\u2019ll marvel at the progress Gifford and other communities have made in recovering from these terrible storms.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nLast Tuesday, President Barack Obama declared Illinois a major disaster area, approving Gov. Pat Quinn\u2019s request for federal assistance.\u00a0 The declaration makes federal Individual Assistance (IA) available to people and businesses in 15 Illinois counties, including Champaign County.\u00a0 IA funding helps with temporary housing, home repairs or replacement, and other disaster-related expenses.\u00a0 The President\u2019s declaration renders all Illinois counties eligible for Hazard Mitigation Assistance, which includes funding to reduce future losses to public and private property.\r\n\u00a0\r\nDurbin and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) led Illinois\u2019 entire Congressional Delegation in submitting a bipartisan letter of support along with the Governor\u2019s request.\r\n\u00a0\r\nAnyone impacted by the Nov. 17 tornadoes should register for the grants and low-interest loans they may be eligible for. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the assistance program, has a toll-free telephone number (1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for hearing and speech impaired) for victims to apply for assistance. Registration can also be done online at www.disasterassistance.gov?.\r\n\u00a0\r\nStorm victims who require assistance registering with FEMA can contact Senator Durbin\u2019s Springfield office at 1-217-492-4062.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=39f0388f-3e37-44d7-97f1-904ebfd1a40d"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4407620765268803, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}