HARRISBURG, Ill. (AP) -- The state of Illinois is asking the federal government to reverse an agency's decision to deny aid to five tornado-ravaged counties in southern Illinois.

Gov. Pat Quinn says today's appeal was to the Department of Homeland Security. It comes just days after the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected the state's request for the disaster relief, saying the estimated property damage from the Feb. 29 tornadoes that killed seven people in Harrisburg wasn't enough.

After meeting this week with federal lawmakers from Illinois, FEMA gave the state more time to submit revised damage estimates.

Sen. Dick Durbin has said FEMA rejected the state's aid request before all of the damage from the storms was calculated.

Illinois seeks the aid for Saline, Gallatin, Randolph, Union and Williamson counties.