CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — This week, state assessment teams determined that there was enough damage from the recent flash flooding in Chicago and its nearby suburbs to qualify for possible federal assistance. That help, though, might still be a long way off.
Greg Nimmo is the recovery division chief for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and he says there are still several steps to getting disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
First, Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office has to approve the request. Nimmo said that should happen this week.
“Due to storms and flooding in early July, many Illinoisans were left with severe home and property damage,” wrote Pritzker in a recent press release. “When local resources have been exhausted, assistance from the federal government can unlock more tools to help those in need and I’m hopeful this request will be approved.”
Next, the request will go to the White House.
Nimmo said there’s no official timetable for White House approval. It typically takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. If approved, it’ll trigger the opening of Disaster Recovery Centers in Cook County. That means county residents affected by the flooding could apply for grant funding to help cover the cost of repairs and rebuilding.
Cases would be handled by the Small Business Administration, which considers low-interest loans — something many people don't have the assets to handle.
“Let’s say they just don’t have the means; they don’t have the credit ability; they don’t have the payment ability; they don’t have any of those things,” Nimmo said. “[If] a long-term loan over a low interest is not a good fit for them, then they’re automatically referred over to FEMA under the Individual Assistance program.”
That’s the grant program — the aid most flood victims are looking for. It’s not a fast process.
How long could this all take? Nimmo said they are still working on flooding cases from around downstate East St. Louis from 2022.
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