When you consider that Centreville, Ill., is one of the poorest cities in the state, it’s easy to see how the city’s flooding and sewage problems have plagued it for decades without help. But there is hope that all with those problems on the radar of some in higher government, things will change. With the support of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who called the situation “a textbook example of environmental racism,” Centreville, Cahokia and Alorton hope to share $22 million through a FEMA BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grant. The grant will supply funds to repair and maintain sewage systems in the area that have long been neglected. Residents have, for decades, routinely experienced yards and houses flooded with sewage, with little or no help from officials. Residents filed a lawsuit last summer seeking help with the sewage and flooding issues. To view the full article visit the Government Technology.
