CHICAGO, Ill. – Federal help could soon be on the way for Central Illinois residents recovering from last month’s severe weather and derecho.
Governor JB Pritzker has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration from FEMA for eight Illinois counties, including Tazewell, Fulton, and McLean. The request covers damage from the severe storms that tore through the state between August 11 and August 16.
If approved by the federal government, the declaration would unlock FEMA Individual Assistance for local residents. That includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, plus low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.
It would also provide Public Assistance funding for local governments and qualifying nonprofits to help pay for debris removal, emergency response costs, and repairs to damaged roads, bridges, and public infrastructure.
Along with the federal request, the governor extended Illinois’ state disaster proclamation for an additional 30 days. That keeps state resources, equipment, and personnel available to assist local recovery efforts across Tazewell, Fulton, McLean, Champaign, Cook, Ford, Vermilion, and Will counties.
The request follows joint damage assessments conducted across the region by local, state, and federal officials, who determined the destruction was significant enough to warrant federal aid.
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