Durbin, FEMA to Discuss Tornado Aid for Homeowners

(With additional reporting from The Associated Press)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and other lawmakers plan to meet this week with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to find out why it won't help southern Illinois residents hurt by the recent tornado.

They'll meet Wednesday with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in Washington, D.C.

Durbin spokeswoman Christina Angarola says the senator wants to know how the decision was made and will ask Fugate to reconsider "some elements." She didn't say what those were.

FEMA spokesman Mark Peterson says the agency doesn't put a dollar value on homeowners' losses, but he says enough insurance and other resources exist within the state to recover from the disaster.

Peterson says the agency is determining now whether local governments qualify for help - which requires at least $12 million in expenses and damages.