Illinois requests FEMA aid for eight counties following August storms

Governor JB Pritzker has requested a presidential major disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist eight Illinois counties recovering from severe August storms. The request follows preliminary damage assessments indicating that the destruction from tornadoes, destructive winds, and flooding exceeds the state’s independent capacity to respond.

The affected areas include Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion, and Will counties. The storms, which occurred throughout mid-August, produced wind gusts approaching 100 mph and significant flooding. If federal aid is granted, it could provide residents and business owners with access to temporary housing, home repair grants, and low-cost loans for uninsured property damage.

Additionally, Pritzker has extended the state’s existing disaster proclamation for another 30 days. This extension is intended to keep state resources available and expedite the procurement and contracting processes for local governments to accelerate recovery efforts.