Governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday issued a state disaster proclamation for eleven counties ravaged by severe weather this spring and early summer.
The proclamation covers Kankakee, McLean, Stephenson and Winnebago counties for severe weather events that took place in March and April; and Coles, Cook, Effingham, Jefferson, LaSalle, Warren and Woodford counties for storm events over the past month.
It comes amid a record stretch of severe weather in the Land of Lincoln. Midway through the year, the National Weather Service has already confirmed 173 tornadoes in Illinois, the most recorded in a single year.
Several communities have also sustained storm-related damage.
Pritzker is scheduled to visit Effingham and Jefferson counties today. The proclamation frees up additional state resources and personnel for response and recovery operations and can facilitate requests for state and federal disaster relief.
