Cook County Disaster Recovery Center opens in North Lawndale

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The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security opened a state disaster relief center for Cook County on Oct. 6.

Located at the Douglass Branch of the Chicago Public Library, the center will provide assistance to those in Cook County affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in the area from July 13-16 of this year.

Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the State of Illinois and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the Disaster Recovery Center to assist those applying for disaster assistance, which includes financial assistance with home repairs, loans or temporary housing.

This support will include answering any questions, assisting with identifying and uploading appropriate documents, and providing additional resources. Those who visit the Disaster Recovery Center can also learn how to make their properties more resilient to severe storms and tornadoes.

Across Cook County, thousands of trees were downed and parked cars and power lines were destroyed during the July storms. Meteorologists reported that 27 tornadoes touched down in the Chicago area on July 15 alone, a record-breaking number for a single storm, according to WBEZ.

Although Chicago and Broadview were among the hardest-hit areas, the storms caused trees to fall over homes and streets in Oak Park.

While officials reported that tornadoes touched down in West Town, Chicago neighborhoods further west are still recovering from the June and July 2023 storms.

Chicago’s West Side received over $66 million from FEMA for last year’s storms. However, hundreds of residents are still struggling with water damage and moldy basements with no hope of additional financial help.

Those affected by this year’s July storms can visit any disaster relief center to receive assistance, as there are additional centers in other counties. To find the address near you, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.

The Cook County Disaster Center in North Lawndale, like all others, is offering assistance in English, American Sign Language and other translated materials. Barrier-free parking spaces are available in all disaster protection centers.

Those affected by the July storms can also apply for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app or by calling (800) 621-3362.

For more information about disaster recovery in Illinois, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4819.

The Cook County Disaster Recovery Center is located at the Douglass Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3353 W. 13th St. in Chicago. It is open at the following times: Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m

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