The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has denied the state of Illinois’ request for federal financial assistance following storms, tornadoes, and floods that struck numerous communities in August, officials announced.
Governor JB Pritzker requested funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the recovery of eight affected counties: Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion, and Will, but FEMA stated that approval of federal aid was not justified.
The decision sparked strong reactions from state officials. Pritzker accused the administration of putting political interests ahead of citizens’ needs, while Democratic Senator Dick Durbin called the decision unacceptable.
Criticism was heightened by the fact that neighboring Indiana received federal aid for the consequences of the same storm, while Illinois was left without the requested funds. Local officials estimate that the damage exceeds the capacity for recovery without federal assistance.
The storm on August 11 brought tornadoes and winds of nearly 160 kilometers per hour, damaging homes, businesses, and infrastructure; subsequent storms caused additional flooding and power outages.
According to a Politico analysis, this is the third time since Trump returned to the White House that Illinois has been denied requested FEMA aid; the agency rejects claims that the decisions are politically motivated.
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