Illinois Disaster Proclamation
Governor Pritzker Declares Disaster for 11 Illinois Counties After Severe Tornado Season
Key Points
The disaster proclamation covers 11 counties, explicitly naming Coles, Cook, Effingham, Kankakee, LaSalle, McLean, Stephenson, Warren, Winnebago, Woodford, and Jefferson.
An EF-3 tornado struck Effingham on June 17, followed by an EF-3 tornado in Jefferson County on June 21, illustrating the ongoing severity of the outbreak this spring.
The proclamation unlocks funding through the Illinois CDBG Disaster Response program, allowing eligible local governments to apply for up to $250,000 to support cleanup, debris removal, and public infrastructure repairs.
It goes into effect immediately and creates a pathway for local, state, and federal disaster relief assistance, enabling quicker access to state resources and potential federal help.
Gov. JB Pritzker is scheduled to visit Effingham and Jefferson counties on July 1 to view damage and meet with local officials, signaling ongoing on-site coordination for recovery.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a state disaster proclamation on June 30 covering 11 counties battered by months of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding, according to Southern Illinois Now. The move unlocks state resources and opens a path to federal disaster aid for communities still reeling from a record-breaking season.
Illinois has seen 173 verified tornadoes in 2026 — shattering the previous state record of 142 set in 2024, Chicago Sun-Times reported. Two EF-3 tornadoes alone struck Effingham and Jefferson counties in June, killing at least two people and destroying dozens of homes and businesses.
EF-3 Tornadoes Leave a Trail of Death and Damage
On June 17, an EF-3 tornado carved a 26.2-mile path through Effingham County with peak winds of 150 mph, according to Southern Illinois Now. Two people were injured. The storm caused major structural damage to Mid America Motorworks and other buildings in the city of Effingham.
Four days later, on June 21, a second EF-3 tornado hit Jefferson County near Mount Vernon and Dix. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office identified the two people killed as Delores B. Shelton, 83, and Sarita L. Kimble, 62, both of Mount Vernon, Capitol City Now reported. Five others were injured. Both victims lived in single-wide trailers destroyed by the storm.
Proclamation Covers 11 Counties, Releases Immediate Funding
The disaster proclamation names Coles, Cook, Effingham, Jefferson, Kankakee, LaSalle, McLean, Stephenson, Warren, Winnebago, and Woodford counties, according to Audacy. It went into effect immediately on June 30 and covers severe weather events stretching from March through June 2026.
One key benefit is access to the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Response program. Eligible local governments can apply for up to $250,000 each to pay for debris removal, cleanup, and public infrastructure repairs, Chicago Sun-Times reported. The proclamation also gives Pritzker the authority to mobilize state personnel and equipment.
Pritzker Visits Damage Sites, Eyes Federal Aid
Governor Pritzker was scheduled to visit Effingham and Jefferson counties on July 1 to view damage and meet with local officials, according to Capitol City Now. "Illinois has faced unprecedented severe weather this year," Pritzker said. "As communities recover, we remember the lives that were lost."
The proclamation is also a required first step toward requesting a federal Major Disaster Declaration. However, the federal government denied Illinois' appeal for aid after the August 2025 floods, saying the damage did not meet federal thresholds, Patch reported. State officials have criticized that decision as politically motivated.
Illinois Breaks Tornado Records as Scientists Warn of Shifting Risk
Illinois has led the nation in tornado counts three of the last four years, according to Chicago Sun-Times. State Climatologist Trent Ford said the 2026 season's record totals were driven in part by a shift out of a La Niña weather pattern. "It is very possible, if not likely, that these events pushed us to the top of the record list," Ford said.
Meteorologists also note a broader "northeast shift" in tornado activity away from the traditional Great Plains Tornado Alley. Insured losses from the June 18–25 U.S. storm outbreak alone are expected to reach the "low single-digit billions," according to Aon's Weekly Cat Report, cited by Southern Illinois Now. With federal reimbursement uncertain, Illinois may bear much of that cost itself.
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