Chicago to receive $426 million for disaster relief from 2023, 2024 storms

Chicago will receive more than $426 million for disaster relief to support communities impacted by storms and flooding in 2023 and 2024.

The city's share is part of a total of $856 million in federal funding for Illinois through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help areas in the state recover from recent natural disasters.

The funding also includes $244 million for Cook County, $96 million for suburban Cicero and $89 million for downstate St. Clair County, HUD officials said Wednesday in Austin on the West Side, an area that was badly affected by flooding in the storms.

These dollars "are truly the difference-makers for people to be able to financially get back on their feet, for small business to reopen or to retool and for the government to be able to do large and small infrastructure projects," said Marion Mollegen McFadden, HUD principal deputy assistant secretary.

"I'm thrilled that the federal government is providing further disaster relief to Chicagoans," said Mayor Brandon Johnson, who lives in Austin. The investment "will help homeowners on the West Side whose homes suffered significant damage from severe weather disasters. These funds will help us replace the damage to people's homes, strengthen our infrastructure and support economic revitalization as well as implement disaster mitigation efforts."

HUD officials said those impacted who still need help should keep an eye out for their jurisdictions to carry out an unmet needs assessment to determine areas that still require assistance. A plan will be drafted after the assessment is completed and should be presented to the public in at least one community meeting to get feedback, McFadden said.

"So stay engaged with your localities that are receiving this money," she said. "Make sure that they know what your need is."

The funding comes from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025, enacted on Dec. 21, 2024. A total of $12 billion was allocated in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds across 24 states and territories affected by disasters, HUD said in a news release Tuesday.

The block grants can be used to replace damaged affordable housing, strengthen infrastructure through repairs and upgrades, implement measures to reduce risk of future extreme weather events and economically support residents.

Chicago has its own flood repair program. Johnson added $5 million to the program last year to help up to 200 impacted homeowners. Citywide, more than 12,000 reports of flooded basements were filed with 311 in the first two weeks after torrential downpours July 2023, according to a WBEZ analysis.

In July of last year, 41 tornadoes touched down in the Chicago area within 36 hours. It was the “most prolific tornado event” to hit the Chicago area in recorded history, according to the National Weather Service, breaking the record for the most number of tornadoes reported in a single event.

More than $50 million in FEMA assistance has already been distributed to Illinoisans affected by the 2024 storms.