- Credibility:
LOGAN SQUARE — Chicagoans impacted by this summer’s flooding can get help applying for federal relief funding at a public meeting next week.
President Joe Biden declared Cook County a disaster area in August after record-setting rainfall and widespread flooding in late June and early July, unlocking funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
FEMA is providing residents with temporary housing and home repair grants, low-cost loans for uninsured property losses and other relief. The funding is for anyone in Cook County who suffered damage during the summer storms.
RELATED: Here’s How West Siders Can Apply For Federal Flood Assistance
Residents who need assistance accessing the federal aid are encouraged to attend an informational session 6 p.m. Monday at Kelvyn Park High School, 4343 W. Wrightwood Ave.
FEMA officials and staffers from Ramirez’s office will be on-site to help residents set up appointments and fill out and appeal applications. Information will be provided in Spanish and English.
The event is being hosted by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and a host of other elected officials, including State Sen. Omar Aquino, State Sen. Robert Martwick, State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, State Rep. Will Guzzardi, State Rep. Lilian Jiménez, Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th), Ald. Rossana Rodríguez-Sánchez (33rd), Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), Ald. Ruth Cruz (30th), Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Daniel “Pogo” Pogorzelski.
Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoThe heavy rainfall over the summer hit the West Side especially hard. Communities there saw nearly 9 inches of rain within a 24-hour period during the July 2 storms. One in four households in Austin reported flooding damage after the city’s sewer system overflowed because it couldn’t handle the excess stormwater.
Other parts of the city, including the Northwest Side, were also battered by the record-setting rainfall.
In a written statement, Ramirez said “many of our neighbors lost their homes, businesses, and their hard-earned personal belongings” in the storms.
“Bringing FEMA to IL-03 will help meet those who need help where they are, answering their questions and getting them closer to the relief they desperately need,” she said.
After registering with FEMA, residents will be given an application number that should be kept for reference or status checks on filed claims, according to the city’s disaster assistance application process webpage.
A FEMA inspector will call within a few days to arrange a visit of the damaged home or apartment. Proof of ownership or occupancy of the damaged home is required.
For more information about the Cook County disaster declaration, visit FEMA’s webpage here.
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