Pritzker Issues Disaster Proclamation After Severe Storms and Flooding in Illinois Counties (Springfield, IL) – Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday declared a state disaster in five northern Illinois counties after a series of severe storms and flooding last month left behind widespread damage.
The proclamation covers Boone, Cook, Kane, McHenry, and Will counties, where heavy rains between Aug. 16 and Aug. 19 caused significant flooding, property damage, power outages, and blocked roadways. The designation allows state resources and personnel to be deployed more quickly to support local recovery efforts.
“To support those impacted by the devastating August storms, I have signed a disaster proclamation to accelerate the recovery process and provide state relief to our residents,” Pritzker said in a statement. “I want to thank IEMA-OHS for their ongoing coordination as they work to ensure impacted residents and businesses get the resources they need.”
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), working with local governments and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), conducted joint damage assessments earlier this month that confirmed widespread destruction across the affected areas.
“Through the preliminary damage assessments, we’ve been able to validate the full scope of the August 16-19 storms’ impact,” said IEMA-OHS Acting Director Ted Berger. “The Governor’s proclamation is a critical step to expanding assistance, allowing us to submit this information to FEMA for determination of what federal assistance may be made available to residents and local governments.”
The disaster declaration is the first step toward seeking federal aid, which could include assistance from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration for impacted households, businesses, and communities.
The proclamation took effect immediately and remains in place as state and local officials continue assessing long-term recovery needs.
Pritzker Issues Disaster Proclamation After Severe Storms and Flooding in Illinois Counties
