Overview
- The governor formally requested a presidential major disaster declaration on Tuesday for Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will counties and extended the state disaster proclamation for 30 days to continue state support.
- State and FEMA teams completed preliminary damage assessments this month with 14 FEMA teams visiting affected communities to document tornado, wind and flood damage, including an Aug. 11 storm that produced gusts near 100 mph in southern Cook and Will counties.
- If FEMA approves the request, individuals could apply for temporary housing grants, home-repair grants and low-cost loans while local governments could use public assistance to repair infrastructure and get reimbursed for debris removal and emergency work.
- Approval is not guaranteed because the federal agency denied recent Illinois requests in 2025 and analyses show that the current administration has signaled higher thresholds and slower decisions for disaster declarations.
- Illinois is pressing ahead with state-led recovery and alternative federal options such as SBA disaster loans and HUD disaster block grants, and residents remain reliant on temporary state aid while they wait for FEMA’s decision.