Published on July 1, 2026 7:03 pm
Last Updated on July 1, 2026 7:03 pm
(GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND ILLINOIS IEMA-OHS DIRECTOR TED BERGER AT THE MEYER DAIRY FARM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON)
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker visited Effingham County Wednesday afternoon, stopping at Meyer Dairy Farm north of Teutopolis. The governor made his visit exactly two weeks after a F-3+ tornado struck the county and obliterated the farm.
The governor stopped in Effingham County after returning from Jefferson County, where he toured the Mt. Vernon area, which was also clobbered by the storms. Pritzker talked about the damage he has seen and what can be done to help those affected by the storms.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), in coordination with state and local partners, is continuing to deploy resources and implement the State Emergency Operations Plan to support response and recovery efforts in the affected counties. The proclamation directs state agencies to assist local governments as communities continue recovering from the devastating tornadoes and severe storms that exhausted local resources and caused widespread damage across Illinois.
“IEMA-OHS has been on the ground supporting communities since the first wave of spring severe weather occurred, working in coordination with our county and local emergency management partners to support local response needs and assess the damage immediately after,” said IEMA-OHS Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “That kind of coordinated response between local and state officials is what Illinoisans deserve. This proclamation ensures we continue to support impacted counties with available resources and that we may pursue available avenues for recovery assistance now and into the future.”
The severe storms and tornadoes damaged homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, caused prolonged power outages, and strained local response capabilities as communities continue to recover and rebuild.
The disaster proclamation makes additional state resources and personnel available to support response and recovery operations and can facilitate requests for state and federal disaster assistance. Governor Pritzker has also directed IEMA-OHS to continue coordinating with federal partners to evaluate available assistance and identify additional resources to help impacted communities recover and rebuild.
The disaster proclamation goes into effect immediately and can be viewed here.
Additional Resources Unlocked
- Funding for Impacted Communities: The proclamation unlocks the potential for small, rural communities to apply for funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Response program through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).[WH1] [HM2] [CP3] [WH4] [BE5] [PC6] [PC7] [BC8] [PC9] Disaster Response is a HUD funded program and units of local government are eligible for up to $250,000 to assist with unexpected costs after a Governor-declared disaster. This includes reimbursement for cleanup, debris removal and repairs to public infrastructure. Communities would have six months to apply for this funding after a disaster declaration is made.he.
- Personnel & Equipment: The proclamation can facilitate deployment of state personnel and equipment if needed or requested by locals.
- Procurement: The proclamation relieves traditional procurement constraints to expedite the securing of resources, such as commodities or specialized equipment, which may be needed to timely effect response.
