COOK COUNTY APPROVES $15 MILLION STORM RELIEF PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY 2025 STORMS

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — Cook County has approved a $15 million Resident Storm Relief Project aimed at helping households that continue to recover from severe storms that struck the county in July and August 2025.

The one-time assistance program will provide financial relief to eligible residents who experienced damage during the 2025 storms and did not receive sufficient assistance to cover their losses.

According to Cook County, the funding will be divided equally between Chicago and suburban Cook County, with $7.5 million designated for City of Chicago residents and $7.5 million for residents of suburban Cook County municipalities.

Eligible households may receive up to $2,000 in financial assistance through the program.

WHY THE PROGRAM WAS CREATED

The relief program follows severe weather that affected Cook County during two periods in 2025: July 25 through July 28 and August 16 through August 19.

The storms brought heavy rainfall and flooding that damaged homes and property in Chicago and several suburban communities.

Cook County sought federal disaster assistance following the storms, including Presidential Major Disaster Declarations that could have made FEMA Individual Assistance available to affected households. According to the county, those requests and subsequent appeals were denied by the federal government.

Cook County then established the Resident Storm Relief Project using money from its Disaster Response and Recovery Fund.

The program will be administered by the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security.

IMPORTANT: THIS DOES NOT COVER THE AUGUST 2026 STORMS

Residents should understand that the newly approved $15 million program is specifically intended for qualifying households affected by the July and August 2025 storms.

It does not automatically provide assistance to residents who suffered damage during this week's August 2026 severe storms.

Any potential government assistance related to the current storms would involve a separate damage-assessment and disaster-relief process.

WHEN WILL APPLICATIONS OPEN?

Cook County has said the Resident Storm Relief Project is expected to launch in fall 2026.

Additional information about eligibility requirements, documentation and the application process is expected to be released as the program gets closer to opening.

Residents who believe they may qualify should monitor official Cook County announcements and begin gathering records related to their 2025 storm damage, including photographs, repair documentation and receipts.

The county's original announcement and future program updates can be found through Cook County Government.

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