On Tuesday, President Joe Biden officially issued a disaster declaration for Cook County after torrential rains and flooding from late June to early July besieged the region.
With the President’s declaration, funds will be available for people impacted by the rain and flooding in Cook County. Andrew D. Friend of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been selected to orchestrate federal recovery operations within impacted areas.
“Thank you to President Biden and FEMA for recognizing the devastating effects of recent extreme weather on Chicago and its surrounding neighbors and taking the appropriate action to ensure impacted residents can get back on their feet,” said Governor JB Pritzker in a statement.
“Residents and businesses, especially those on the West Side of Chicago who were most brutally hit, are now able to access additional resources necessary to rebuild and revitalize, and I know Cook County will build back stronger than ever.”
Rep Danny K. Davis echoed Gov. Pritzker’s gratitude, disclosing in a statement that he had asked for help for his constituents impacted by the storms.
“Again, thank you, President Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, Governor Pritzker, the community and all those who have organized to make this day possible,” Davis said.
Assistance can encompass financial aid for short-term housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to address property damages not covered by insurance, and various initiatives aimed at aiding individuals and business owners recover from the impact of the disaster.
“Today’s action by the Biden administration is a critical lifeline for Chicagoans, particularly communities on the West Side, who are still reeling from heavy storms and flooding last month,” said Mayor Johnson.
“In the days following the storm, the full force of city government quickly took action to mitigate the impacts on the ground. Today’s federal intervention will build on that work and drastically expand our capacity to continue delivering necessary resources and recovery.”
For hazard mitigation efforts in Cook County, there is the option of obtaining federal funding, which operates on a shared-cost basis.
Ongoing damage assessments are being conducted in other areas. After the evaluations are completed, more counties and forms of assistance may be designated.
More Information on Applying for Assistance
Residents and business owners who suffered losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.
About Post Author
