Springfield, IL — Governor JB Pritzker has filed a formal appeal with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, challenging the agency's decision to deny Illinois federal disaster aid after severe storms swept the state in mid-August.

What is happening: The governor submitted the appeal on Thursday, asking FEMA to reverse its denial of Illinois' request for a major disaster declaration. FEMA turned down the state's original request last month without giving a reason. The appeal brings new damage figures that the state says strengthen the case for federal help.

What the appeal says: The state now puts the storm damage eligible for public assistance at 43 million dollars, up from 27.6 million dollars in the original request. That is well above FEMA's 24.9 million dollar standard for Illinois. The appeal says six of the eight impacted counties, including Cook County, now meet their individual thresholds for relief. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency has also finished accounting for all costs from the storms, including debris removal that was still under way when the first request went in.

Local impacts: The August 11 through 16 storms brought flooding, tornadoes and severe wind damage to Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will counties. State documents show 4,519 homes were damaged and 46 were destroyed. Pritzker's office has pointed out that FEMA approved a disaster declaration for Indiana for the same storm system, which carried into northwest Indiana with catastrophic flooding.

What happens next: It is not clear when the state will hear back from FEMA on the appeal. If the appeal succeeds, federal public assistance would help the eight counties pay for debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to public buildings and roads.

Source: ABC7 Chicago, November 6, 2026. Reported by TNW News.