West Cook News

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has issued a disaster proclamation following storms and flooding that affected the area from August 16 to August 19, 2025. The region saw several days of heavy rainfall, resulting in severe flooding across residential neighborhoods. Municipalities such as Chicago, Berwyn, Cicero, and Mount Prospect were among those most impacted.

The disaster proclamation enables Cook County to seek additional resources to help communities and residents recover from the damage caused by the storms.

“Cook County residents sustained significant damage due to severe storms that struck our community in August,” said President Preckwinkle. “This is the second significant severe storm and flooding event in less than a month. I’m grateful for the partnership with the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois in conducting damage assessments. My administration continues to coordinate recovery efforts and will ensure we pursue all possible opportunities for additional assistance for residents who experienced devastating impacts from these storms.”

The Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) monitored local needs during the storm and has been involved in ongoing recovery efforts. EMRS continues to work with municipalities by providing technical support for damage assessments.

According to county officials, more than 5,500 reports of damage to homes and businesses have been submitted so far. Local governments are also documenting damage to public infrastructure and costs related to emergency response, highlighting the extent of the storm’s impact on Cook County.