Lake County Bailout

Demonstrating a keen grasp of the obvious, Governor Bruce Rauner declared Lake County a disaster area. The News-Sun said:

Gov. Bruce Rauner toured flooded areas in Lake County on Friday as officials warned that the worst is yet to come in some areas, with the potential for record flooding along the Fox and Des Plaines rivers. While some anticipated the governor might declare the county a disaster area when he went to Gurnee around 10:45 a.m. to survey the damage and meet with local officials, he initially did not, drawing criticism from two local Democratic legislators and others. Hours later, at about 5 p.m., Rauner reversed course, issuing the disaster declaration not only for Lake but for Kane and McHenry counties as well.
After tour of flooding, Rauner declares Lake, Kane, McHenry counties disaster areas

Illinois Billionaire-Governor Rauner was not quite as stingy in the past when it came to doling out the flood disaster declarations, as this 2016 press release attests:

A state disaster declaration makes a wide variety of state resources available that can help communities respond and recover from flooding. Such resources include sandbags, sand, pumps, trucks, inmate crews and other assistance to ensure public safety.
Governor Rauner Adds 11 Counties to State Disaster Proclamation for Flooding

Note to Ops: do not try to be reimbursed for repairs to your leaky cabin in the Dells.

To be sure, along with the great power of a disaster declaration comes great responsibility. Declaring Lake County a disaster area has consequences -- consequences mandated by the State of Illinois, and having impacts as far-reaching as they are wide. Well, no more than 10 of them, by your LakeCountyEye's count:

Spoiler Alert: What to Expect When Lake County is Declared a Flood Disaster Area

Illinois Beach State Park will be moved to McHenry County. Scoop the Loop host to classic Land Yachts as well as Sea Yachts. All wrongful convictions henceforth decided under Maritime Law. Lake County sinkholes will be registered as inland lakes. The Race to Mackinac Island to start from Hawthorn Woods. Asian carp are now eligible to vote. No more jokes about why it's called Port Barrington. The Lake County Joint Action Water Agency would be rebranded as the Lake County Water Abatement District. Goodbye: Route 53 Extension Hello: Route 53 Suspension Bridge Lake County will be renamed: No-Wake County

Look for your LakeCountyEye dowsing near you.