Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said about 100,000 cubic yards of debris has been removed from south suburban areas affected by severe storms in August, and pledged another $8 million to continue that effort.
The funding comes in response to the Aug. 11 storms that swept across Southern Cook County, burdening many areas with the task of repairing severe storm damage. The county committed to about two weeks of work across affected south municipalities, officials said.
The county has already worked with municipalities and mutual aid partners to provide disaster relief. The new money, from the county’s disaster relief fund and county funding, will go directly toward helping municipalities pay companies and crews that can provide sufficient cleanup, county officials said.
Alexander Joves, executive director of Cook County Emergency Management Services, said while there is more work to do, the county’s investment will increase municipalities’ ability to remove remaining debris and continue the recovery process.
“There is a tremendous amount of work that lies ahead. For some of our smaller municipalities, the scale of that work can exceed their available equipment, personnel and financial resources,” Joves said. “This is where Cook County and Emergency Management and Regional Security makes the difference.”
Preckwinkle issued a disaster proclamation Aug. 14 as a result of widespread severe storms. Destructive straight-line winds and three EF-1 tornadoes came through Tinley Park, Orland Park, Country Club Hills, Homewood, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Lansing and several other towns, according to a news release.
Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld told the Southtown he had never seen storms like this before.
Hofeld said he watched more than 1,500 trees come down, even one at his own home, as two EF-1 tornadoes hit the Homewood-Flossmoor area.
“I had never seen anything like it,” Hofeld told the Southtown.
He said taking care of stumps and branches will continue throughout the winter and spring. Forestation will begin either late next year or during 2028 but that it requires significant funding.
Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson said the county and its personnel have been vital in supporting her village. She said 75,000 cubic yards of debris have already been collected, and she said they have already spent just over $1 million to date.
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County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill said community feedback regarding storm damage has been instrumental in aiding affected municipalities and said the county will continue to work alongside residents and officials.
“I know when you’re in emergency situations and your citizens and your residents are in dire need of assistance, sometimes it feels like we’re moving very slowly,” McCaskill said.
To prepare for any potential storms next year, Joves said the emergency management services has its debris management operation in place and will look at what they have done this year to evaluate what they can do differently.
In terms of more aid, Joves said there has been a request from the governor and from the state agency for the federal government to declare a major disaster, which is pending.
“We are also looking again across our county resources to see how we can do further assistance to our residents,” he said.
Joves said that if residents still have questions regarding the operation, they can go to their local municipality.