Hoping to learn how the federal government can help, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos surveyed flooding in the Quad Cities Friday. Also she and local emergency management officials studied flood maps of the Mississippi and Rock rivers.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Bustos thinks she'll be able to help flood-prone areas of her 17th District, and the rest of the country.
"Where we can get grants and low interest loans for buyouts - I think we need to take a look at that. And where we can get grants and low interest loans for levee improvements - I think we should take a look at that."
And where people live in flood zones, Bustos says there may be ways to help them elevate their homes instead of having to move.
But she emphasizes any federal help will cost a lot of money and it won't happen in a year or two - probably Congress will have to work on 10 and 20 year plans to lessen the impact of flooding in the future.