Illinois Disaster Declaration for Severe Weather and Flooding Approved

Sept. 23, 2024 - On Friday, Sept. 20, United States President Joseph R. Biden signed a federal Major Disaster Declaration authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Individual Assistance program to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the severe weather experienced July 13 through July 16, 2024. Seven Illinois counties, including Cook, are covered under the declaration.

FEMA's Individual Assistance could include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the severe weather Oak Park and surrounding areas experienced on July 13 through July 16, 2024.

On July 15th, strong summer storms with extremely high winds and rain pushed through the area. At the time, Village officials observed that the most impacted section of Oak Park was between I-290 and Madison St. Several intersections along Jackson Blvd., and elsewhere, were rendered impassable due to downed trees, limbs and power lines.

Disaster survivors and businesses who sustained damage in Cook County - as well as Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will and Winnebago - can begin applying for Disaster Assistance by calling 800-621-6632 (FEMA) or online at www.disasterassistance.gov. In addition, Disaster Recovery Centers will be open soon in all seven counties with more opportunities for disaster survivors to engage with FEMA representatives on the disaster application process.

For more information, please visit the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) at www.ready.illinois.gov.

About Oak Park

The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.