Following in the footsteps of Cook County, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation on Friday to allow communities including those in the south and southwest suburbs to access state resources toward recovery from heavy storms in July.
A media release from Pritzker’s office said the governor also requested a federal Major Disaster Declaration from President Joe Biden through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“After our Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment with local, county and FEMA partners in multiple municipalities across the state, we have found significant damages,” said Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau in the release. “Our Recovery Division continues to work closely with each of the affected communities helping them to recover from this severe weather.”
The proclamation and federal government request received support from almost all of the state’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
Between July 14 and July 15, the county saw 16 confirmed tornadoes and a rare derecho event, or long-lasting thunderstorm with high winds that can cause similar damage to a tornado, said Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security Executive Director Ted Berger earlier this month. The federal lawmakers said the state as a whole saw more than 40 tornados.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
