As the fallout from the summer's severe flooding continues to affect Illinois, local, county, and state agencies are pushing back against a recent setback in their quest for aid. Chicago, Cook County, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) announced intentions to appeal the federal government's denial of a disaster declaration that would open the gates to much-needed relief funds. The declaration, requested by Governor JB Pritzker, aimed to assist in recovery from two rounds of intense flooding that hit the region in late July and mid-August this year.
The storms left behind a wake of damage, causing not just the immediate chaos of flooded streets and homes, but prolonged power outages and disruptions to critical services. IEMA-OHS, along with the City of Chicago and the City of Aurora, reported extensive impact to businesses, infrastructure, and communities in Cook, Will, Boone, McHenry, Kane, Jersey, and Calhoun counties. The damage assessments, a collaborative effort between agencies at multiple levels of government, originally laid the groundwork for the aid request that has now been denied.
In an attempt to bolster their case, officials will reconvene for a round of virtual and in-person assessments starting November 4. They're calling on residents and businesses to contribute any additional evidence of their ongoing struggles, including photos, health reports, and records of housing displacement. This updated documentation is crucial to strengthening the state's argument for federal intervention and support.
Beginning October 29, Illinoisans affected by the floods can participate in a Residential Self-Assessment Survey to report their losses. According to an announcement posted by Cook County, the survey seeks details ranging from damage photos to mold remediation efforts. Although the initial window for such reports has closed, the deadline for this subsequent call for information is set for November 7, giving communities another chance to make their case for why they cannot—and should not—rebuild alone.
