Gov. JB Pritzker is urging the Trump administration to reverse its decision and release federal disaster aid to help residents across Chicago, Cook County, and other parts of Illinois recover from severe summer flooding.
In August, a Garfield Ridge single mother and her children were among the many families forced from their homes after storm-related flooding pushed sewage into their basement. Their experience mirrors what tens of thousands of Illinois residents faced during the heavy July and August rains, according to documents reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times.
State officials estimate that nearly 438,000 Illinois residents across nine counties could benefit from federal disaster assistance. Despite the widespread damage, the Trump administration rejected Illinois’ request for roughly $620 million in aid last month — a move state leaders say is unprecedented given the scale of destruction.
Illinois has historically received hundreds of millions in FEMA relief after severe weather, and Pritzker is pushing for that decision to be reconsidered. In two letters sent Friday, he emphasized how intense rainfall overwhelmed sewer systems on Chicago’s Southwest Side, in Cicero, and in other suburbs, leaving many economically vulnerable residents struggling with hazardous living conditions such as mold and sewage contamination.
Some families have been displaced, while others are spending thousands of dollars out of pocket for cleanup, mold removal, and repairs. One Southeast Side mother reportedly spent $12,000 on mold remediation and lost nearly $2,000 in wages due to flooding. “I have no support. Just me and the kids,” she said.
Community advocates said they were stunned that FEMA declined aid commonly granted after similar disasters. “This is what FEMA is for — to help people repair after disasters,” said Lori Burns of Chatham, calling the decision unethical.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth criticized the denial, accusing President Trump of politically targeting states that didn’t vote for him. The White House rejected that claim, saying Trump reviews federal aid requests carefully to ensure tax dollars are used appropriately and that states invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes.
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