Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation following severe weather, flooding and tornadoes over the last several months.
The move frees up state resources, including funds and personnel, while expediting the contract and procurement process for local governments to help speed up recovery, Pritzker said in a statement Tuesday.
The proclamation covers months of storms, from the tornadoes that tore through Kankakee in March to the most recent storms June 21 in Jefferson County, including: April 14 and 17 in Stephenson County; April 17 in Winnebago County; April 17 and 18 in McLean County; June 10 in Cook County; June 11 in LaSalle and Woodford Counties; and June 17 in Coles, Effingham and Warren Counties.
The state is also working to identify if any federal funds are available to assist as well, Pritzker’s office said. Smaller, rural communities can qualify for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Response program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and offers up to $250,000 for local governments impacted by the disaster, Pritzker’s office said.
“Illinois has faced unprecedented severe weather this year, and I remain committed to supporting every community, business, and family as they rebuild,” Pritzker said in the statement. “As communities recover, we remember the lives that were lost and hold their families and loved ones in our thoughts during this difficult time.”