FEMA denies Illinois disaster request that included Champaign County after August storms
The state says it will appeal; the request sought individual and public assistance for eight counties.
SPRINGFIELD - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied Illinois' request for a major disaster declaration after severe storms, a derecho, flooding and tornadoes in August, according to a state release dated Oct. 8 and posted Friday by the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency.
The request sought individual and public assistance for Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will counties, the release said.
In a letter dated Oct. 7, FEMA said assistance for the affected counties was "not warranted," according to the release. The state said it will appeal the decision.
Gov. JB Pritzker issued a state disaster proclamation after the storms that made additional state resources available, the release said.
"While we are disappointed by this decision, our mission has not changed," said Theodore (Ted) Berger, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security.
Source: State of Illinois news release, Oct. 8, 2026, as posted by the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency, Oct. 9, 2026.