'Save your receipts': Illinois disaster proclamation could open door to federal assistance

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for Winnebago County following the July 13-16 storms that caused widespread flooding and wind damage .

The proclamation — which applies to seven Illinois counties, including Winnebago, Cook, Henry, Fulton, St. Clair, Washington, and Will — could open the door to a federal major disaster declaration, which Pritzker requested Wednesday.

But the state proclamation, on its own, doesn’t do much for local governments.

“Right now, there’s no recovery resources available from the state of Illinois, even with this disaster proclamation,” Winnebago County emergency management coordinator Trent Brass said.

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Brass and other officials from the seven counties were notified in a virtual meeting Thursday that Pritzker had signed the proclamation.

When storms hit Winnebago County in July, floodwaters damaged more than 200 buildings and killed a 76-year-old man whose pickup truck was swept into Keith Creek. High winds downed power lines and caused additional property damage.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency conducted preliminary damage assessments in late July alongside local officials. IEMA officials went door-to-door to ask residents about property damage from the storms.

“Based on reports received by the IEMA-OHS, local resources and capabilities have been exhausted, and state and federal resources are needed to respond to and recover from the effects of these severe storms,” the agency wrote in a Friday press release.

As the Federal Emergency Management Association considers Illinois’ request, Brass said, there’s no set timeline for the agency to issue a decision.

A major disaster declaration, which would require President Joe Biden’s signature, could grant access to individual assistance from FEMA and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Storm costs in Illinois did not meet the threshold for public assistance from FEMA, which helps state and local governments repair damaged infrastructure, according to Brass.

Brass advised residents and business owners to keep track of costs they faced from the storms in case the federal government issues a disaster declaration.

“Save your receipts,” he said.

Tilly Robinson is a summer reporting intern with the Gannett/USA Today Network at the Rockford Register Star. She can be reached via email at mrrobinson@gannett.com and on X @ tillyrobin .

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: 'Save your receipts': Illinois disaster proclamation could open door to federal assistance