State Representatives Jay Hoffman and Christopher Belt recently secured funding to address flooding in the area. The $3 million in state funds will support SIU’s Office of Community Engagement to create a solution.

SIU will work with federal agencies, congressional offices, and the community to find a good plan among the fragmented ideas that exist now. They will focus on increasing stormwater storage. Because of the Riverbend’s geography, it is uniquely vulnerable to dangerous flooding—and some of the worst flooding has been in the last few years.

This funding will empower the plans that protect the area from dangerous flooding.