Springfield - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied the state's request for federal assistance for Southern Illinois individuals and businesses affected by March flooding.

Earlier this month, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich sent a request to President George Bush to declare 15 Southern Illinois counties, including Jefferson County, as major disaster areas as a result of flooding. The governor had stated 39 homes were destroyed, 150 homes sustained major damage and 374 homes had lesser damage, and some 145 businesses also were damaged by flood waters.

"It's very disappointing that FEMA failed to recognize the devastating impact this flood had on so many lives in Southern Illinois," said Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Andrew Velasquez III. "We're going to reach out to emergency managers in each county to determine if any additional damage has been identified since we conducted our damage assessments last month. We hope to find unreported damage that could support a state appeal of this decision."

According to Jefferson County emergency management coordinator Denny Litton, only minor damage had been reported in the county. However, about 60 homes in the city were reported to have basements damaged by flood waters, ranging from 6 inches to 3 feet, according to Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Sargent, the city's emergency management coordinator. One home, on Conger Avenue, was listed as destroyed due to basement walls collapsing.

On March 20, Blagojevich declared 19 Southern Illinois counties state disaster areas due to the flooding. The state disaster declaration made available state assets and personnel to help local officials with response and recovery efforts, including assistance with evacuations, security details and filling sandbags as well as equipment and other support.

The declaration came a day after three people, Stephen Healy, 38, of McLeansboro, Shannon Allen, 20, of Mt. Vernon, and Nicole Asberry were swept away in floodwaters after attempting to drive a pickup truck through a flooded Hall Lane near Waltonville. The bodies of Healy and Allen were discovered that afternoon. Asberry survived the incident.