Gov. JB Pritzker appealed the federal government's denial of disaster relief for Illinois on Nov. 6, seeking aid for eight counties hit by August storms.

The appeal does not include DuPage County, where Downers Grove, Woodridge and Westmont sustained heavy damage from a separate round of severe weather on July 27.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Illinois' original request without explanation, according to Shaw Local News Network, which first reported the appeal. In the new filing, the state said updated damage figures show $43 million in costs eligible for public assistance. That is up from $27.6 million in the original request and well above FEMA's $24.9 million threshold for Illinois.

The governor's request covers Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will counties for flooding, tornadoes and severe wind damage from mid-August storms.

What changed in the appeal

The state said six of the eight counties, including Cook, now meet their individual damage thresholds. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency has fully accounted for all storm costs, including debris removal that was still underway in September, Shaw Local reported. FEMA has validated some costs by reviewing contracts and payments.

The appeal also described damage not previously disclosed to FEMA, including damaged hospitals, police and fire stations, and washed-out roads. A levee in Fulton County needs repair from flooding. The state said more residents need help because insurance claims have been denied since the original request was filed.

Cook County alone has spent more than $8 million responding to the storms. The state has spent $3.4 million.

Bipartisan support

Officials from seven of the eight counties submitted statements to FEMA describing their needs. Eighteen state lawmakers, including 12 Republicans, backed the appeal.

Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, wrote that local governments "cannot be left to pay for the full financial burden of these horrific storms as they recover and repair critical infrastructure."

Deputy Gov. Bria Scudder told Capitol News Illinois the timeline for a response is unclear. She said FEMA has taken longer to respond under the Trump administration than in previous administrations.

Downers Grove area hit hard, but not in request

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado struck Downers Grove on July 27 with peak winds of 85 mph. The twister carved a 2.1-mile path up to 100 yards wide. NWS storm reports also documented 2-inch hail in Downers Grove, golf-ball-size hail in Westmont and downed trees in Woodridge that same day.

Across DuPage County, the July 27 storms produced multiple confirmed tornadoes, widespread tree damage and flooding. But the state's FEMA request and appeal cover only the separate August storm system and do not include DuPage County.

It is not clear from available records whether DuPage County or its municipalities submitted damage data to the state for inclusion in the federal request.

Rescue funding also at risk

At a news conference with Pritzker, Mutual Aid Box Alarm System CEO Bernie Lyons said federal grant cuts are reducing rescue capabilities statewide. MABAS coordinates mutual aid for Illinois fire departments.

Lyons said the state "will no longer be able to fund Illinois Water Rescue 1 in 2027" and may have to downgrade its urban search and rescue team. If funding problems continue, Illinois fire departments could be forced to rely on out-of-state specialized rescue teams, which would delay emergency responses, he said.

FEMA has not announced a timeline for ruling on the appeal.