CHICAGO – Several municipalities in Cook County will have greater access to state resources and emergency personnel after July’s severe storms.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued a disaster proclamation Monday for portions of Cook County after strong storms hit the area on July 14 and 15.
Officials said Cook County experienced three confirmed tornadoes on July 14 and 13 confirmed tornadoes on July 15, leading to significant damage. Some municipalities among the hardest hit during the storms were Broadview, Chicago, Dolton, Flossmoor, Harvey, and Robbins.
This week, the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) will assess damage in affected areas in partnership with state and federal agencies to further document the storms’ impact and get those affected access to appropriate resources.
“Cook County residents sustained significant damage due to severe storms that struck our community on July 14 and 15,” said Preckwinkle. “My administration continues to coordinate recovery efforts with impacted municipalities and will ensure we pursue all possible opportunities for additional assistance. This proclamation is another step to assist residents in the recovery from the storms’ impacts.”
The National Weather Service said during the storms on July 14 and 15, a total of 32 tornadoes were confirmed in the NWS Chicago County Warning Area over the two days. The outbreak surpassed the previous records for the NWS Chicago forecast area of 22 tornadoes that touched down on June 30, 2014, and March 31, 2023.