​On Friday, September 22, 2024, President Biden approved the Illinois Disaster Declaration for Severe Weather that impacted Will County residents and communities. This declaration now allows for residents and community members to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Individual Assistance and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Low-Interest Disaster Loans.

Funds could be used for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the severe weather.
 
 What is FEMA Individual Assistance?
Offers residents the opportunity to apply for grants to receive financial assistance and services after a disaster.
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Apply Online: Disasterassistance.gov

Call: 1-800-621-3362

Use the FEMA App

 

When filling out the application, please complete it as if it were the day after the storm, not today

1. Go to disasterassistance.gov  

2. Click "Let's Get Started"

3. Enter in your Zip Code or State and City

4. Click Next

5. Click the circle "severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding (4819)

6. Click Next

7. Select Will County 

8. Click Next

9. Read through the resources available

10. Click Next 

11. Begin the application

 

 

What is SBA Low-Interest Loans?
Offers residents and business the ability to apply for low-interest loans after a disaster. 

Apply Online: 1-800-659-2955

Call: sba.gov/disaster

Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov 

 

 

 

Disaster Recovery Center

The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at the Will County Center for Community Concerns Building will close this Friday, October 25th, by 5:00 PM. Community members and business owners can continue applying for assistance online at http://disasterassistance.gov/ or by calling the 1-800-621-3362. If you are still in need of assistance on completing applications or submitting documentation online, please visit the Will County Facilities Office at 304 Scott Street in Joliet. FEMA and the SBA will be available at this location Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.​​

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Tax Relief 

The IRS announced tax relief for people and businesses in parts of Illinois affected by storms starting July 13, 2024. This relief applies to Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago counties. Certain deadlines from July 13, 2024, to February 3, 2025, are extended, giving taxpayers until February 3, 2025, to file their taxes and pay what they owe. The IRS will automatically help those in the affected areas. If you live or work outside these areas but need help, call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227.

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https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-tax-relief-for-victims-of-severe-storms-tornadoes-straight-line-winds-and-flooding-in-parts-of-illinois-various-deadlines-postponed-to-feb-3-2025 

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https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-relief-now-available-to-storm-victims-in-parts-of-illinois-multiple-deadlines-postponed-to-feb-3-2025

 

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Links

https://ready.illinois.gov/proclamations/severe-weather-july24.html​​

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https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/fema-updates-individual-assistance-program

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https://www.disasterassistance.gov/help/faqs#:~:text=What%20do%20I%20need%20to,the%20Login.gov%20Help%20Center.

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https://www.fema.gov/disaster/recover/faq​