North Shore homeowners still clearing downed branches and filing insurance claims have until Wednesday, Aug. 5, to report storm damage to Cook County through an online survey that could unlock recovery resources for the community.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle signed a formal disaster proclamation on Thursday, July 30, in response to the severe storms that tore through the region on Monday, July 27. The proclamation allows the county to pursue state and federal assistance for affected municipalities and residents, according to a Cook County news release.
The July 27 storm dumped between 3 and 4.05 inches of rain on parts of Wilmette in a matter of hours, knocked out power to more than 1,000 homes at peak, and generated nearly 200 service requests for downed trees, outages, and flooding.
As of Wednesday, July 29, 560 ComEd customers in Wilmette remained without power, with the largest cluster of 309 households concentrated near the CTA's Linden Avenue station, The Record North Shore reported. Kenilworth Beach closed Monday, July 27, and remaining tee times at Winnetka Golf Club were canceled.
Across northern Illinois, more than 530,000 ComEd customers lost power. The National Weather Service confirmed seven tornadoes from the storm system, including EF-1 tornadoes in the south suburbs.
What the proclamation means for residents
The disaster declaration enables Cook County's Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) to coordinate recovery resources across municipalities. Since the storm, EMRS has worked with more than 15 communities, deploying generators, excavators, and portable light towers while assisting with debris removal and road clearance alongside the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways. The county is also coordinating with ComEd, the American Red Cross, and the Salvation Army.
"My administration will continue standing with residents, supporting local recovery efforts and pursuing all available resources to help communities rebuild," Preckwinkle said in the July 30 proclamation announcement.
How to file the damage survey
The Cook County Resident Damage Survey closes Wednesday, Aug. 5. Residents in Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, and Glencoe who experienced property damage, flooding, or extended power outages can complete the form online in English, Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, or Mandarin.
The survey is voluntary. It does not replace reporting damage to an insurance company and does not guarantee disaster relief. But EMRS is working with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency – Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) to analyze survey responses and determine what assistance may become available.
Local cleanup continues
Wilmette Village Manager Michael Braiman told the Village Board on Tuesday, July 28, that cleanup would continue "for several more weeks." Wilmette's Neighborhood Storage Project collected approximately 3.5 million gallons of stormwater at Hibbard Park, Thornwood Park, and Community Playfields during the storm, helping prevent sewer backups and basement flooding.
Winnetka Public Works began a one-pass community branch collection on Wednesday, July 29. Wilmette Public Works said on July 28 that curbside cleanup activities would continue through mid-August.
Residents with storm-related questions can call their village's non-emergency line: Wilmette at 847-251-2700, Winnetka at 847-716-3568, Kenilworth at 847-251-9210, or Glencoe at 847-835-4111. The damage survey deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 5.
