Visit here for more information on assistance from the July 14-15, 2024 severe storms.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Statement on President Biden Issuing a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Cook County due to Severe Storms and Tornadoes
Today, President Biden signed a Presidential major disaster declaration for Cook County in response to severe storms and tornadoes on July 13-16. I am grateful to President Biden for this declaration which will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide funding directly to impacted residents.
The Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security has coordinated response and recovery efforts following this storm. As a result of the significant damage, I declared a disaster proclamation for the County on August 12 and have advocated for the mobilization of state and federal resources in response to this disaster. Emergency Management and Regional Security will coordinate with FEMA and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to deliver individual assistance for impacted residents and continue to support impacted municipalities.
My administration is committed to working closely with state and federal partners to provide more information to impacted residents as it becomes available in the coming days.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's Statement Regarding Governor Pritzker's Disaster Proclamation - August 30, 2024
“I am grateful to Governor Pritzker for his leadership in issuing a disaster proclamation following severe storms July 13 – 16 which caused widespread damage in Cook County and throughout the state. The storm systems produced 16 confirmed tornado touchdowns in Cook County with damage reported across Cook County. I signed a disaster proclamation for the County earlier this month and the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security worked with the State of Illinois to conduct hundreds of damage assessments to document the impact of these storms. I thank Governor Pritzker for requesting a federal Major Disaster Declaration from the President of the United States through FEMA. We continue to work with municipalities throughout Cook County to assist them in their recovery efforts.”
Cook County Issues Disaster Proclamation for July Tornadoes and Storms - August 12, 2024
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued a disaster proclamation today for portions of Cook County in response to storms that hit the region on July 14 and 15. Cook County experienced three confirmed tornadoes on July 14 and 13 confirmed tornadoes on July 15, leading to significant damage to public and private infrastructure. Broadview, Chicago, Dolton, Flossmoor, Harvey and Robbins were among the hardest-hit Cook County municipalities.
By signing this proclamation, the County seeks to pursue available resources to assist communities and residents in their recovery efforts. This week, the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) will facilitate a joint preliminary damage assessment in partnership with state and federal agencies in impacted communities to further document the impact of the storms.
“Cook County residents sustained significant damage due to severe storms that struck our community on July 14 and 15,” said President Preckwinkle. “My administration continues to coordinate recovery efforts with impacted municipalities and will ensure we pursue all possible opportunities for additional assistance. This proclamation is another step to assist residents in the recovery from the storms’ impacts.”
EMRS activated the County’s Emergency Operations Center on Monday, July 15 and assisted with response and recovery efforts in the days after the severe weather occurred. EMRS personnel deployed mobile command vehicles and mobile power generators while coordinating partner organizations to assist municipalities with food and sheltering needs, while Cook County Department of Transportation and Highway personnel and equipment were deployed to assist with debris management needs. EMRS continues to coordinate recovery efforts and provide technical assistance and support in conducting damage assessments at the municipal level.
Cook County has received hundreds of reports of damage to homes and businesses from this event. Additionally, local municipalities have submitted damage reports for publicly-owned infrastructure and response costs countywide in excess of $5 million which includes impacts in both the City of Chicago and suburban Cook County. These reports demonstrate the significant impact of this storm on the region.
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