Disaster Recovery and Resilience - CDBG-DR
low-level alert: Public Comment Period
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding to help cities, counties and states recover from presidentially declared disasters, especially in low-income areas, subject to funding availability.
The U.S. Congress appropriates funding for the program to rebuild affected areas and provide crucial seed money to start the recovery process. Through the broad range of recovery activities, HUD can help communities and neighborhoods that otherwise might not recover due to limited resources.
Response to 2023 and 2024 storms
In 2025, HUD awarded Cook County’s Department of Planning and Development CDBG-DR funding in response to three severe storms that occurred in 2023 and 2024.
From June 28-July 28, 2025, the County accepted public comments on its 2025 Draft CDBG-DR Action Plan, which summarized available funding resources and related proposed activities designed to meet community and housing needs in suburban Cook County.
HUD approved the 2025 Cook County CDBG-DR Action Plan in September 2025.
As Cook County’s disaster recovery work moved forward, the County received more detailed recovery data and updated its Unmet Needs Assessment. Based on the updated analysis and continued program development, the County is revising its housing and infrastructure programs to better support long-term recovery.
Severe storms (2023-2024)
Beginning June 29, 2023, Cook County experienced a derecho, a widespread, long-lived windstorm associated with a fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms. This storm front brought damaging straight-line winds, resulting in five confirmed tornadoes and wind gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour. Additional severe storms on July 2, 2023, caused flash flooding, downed trees, power outages and damage to public and private property, delaying or preventing effective response and recovery operations. High temperatures and humidity during and after the storms required the opening of shelters and public places to protect people from heat-related injuries.
A little over 2 months later, on September 17, 2023, parts of Cook County received more than 6 inches of rainfall in less than 12 hours, causing severe flooding, straight-line winds and other storm damage.
From July 13, 2024, through July 16, 2024, Cook County experienced severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding. The storms caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure, including roof damage, broken windows and structural issues due to high winds and tornadoes. Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding across the county, inundating streets, basements and low-lying areas, disrupting services and damaging property. The combination of strong winds and flooding resulted in widespread power outages, leaving thousands of people without electricity for several days
Federal declarations and allocations (2023-2024)
Following the severe storms described above, the President of the United States signed major disaster declarations in August and November of 2023 and in September of 2024. These declarations made Cook County eligible for Individual Assistance and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. They also allow Congress to make additional CDBG-DR funds available.
In December of 2024, Congress approved additional funds for CDBG-DR through the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025.
In January of 2025, HUD formally announced the CDBG-DR awards and rules in a Federal Register notice. This included a $244,162,000 award for Cook County to address unmet disaster needs and mitigation activities related to the previously described storms.
County planning and coordination (2025-2026)
In 2025, Cook County assessed unmet needs, engaged the public and developed an Action Plan for CDBG-DR funds. After the County hosted a public comment period and public hearing, HUD executed the CDBG-DR Grant Agreement in December of 2026.
In 2026, Cook County identified new information that led to updating its unmet needs assessment and opportunities to improve the Action Plan. In September of 2026, the County published its draft Substantial Amendment to the Action Plan, requested public comment and hosted a public hearing.
In 2027, Cook County's CDBG-DR programs begin, pending HUD's approval of the Substantial Amendment to the Action Plan.
Beginning September 25, 2026, the County will accept public comments regarding its Draft Substantial Amendment to the CDBG-DR Action Plan for 32 days, ending October 26, 2026.
The Draft Substantial Amendment to the CDBG-DR Action Plan is available in English and in Spanish.
Applicable Public Comment Period:
32 days: September 25, 2026 - October 26, 2026
All interested parties are encouraged to submit written comments, which must be received by 4 p.m. CT on October 26, 2026.
Written comments must be directed to Cheryl Cooke, Deputy Director, Cook County Department of Planning and Development, at Home.Response@CookCountyil.gov or submitted through the Public Comment Form.
Hybrid Public Hearing Invitation
Cook County hosted a hybrid public hearing to gather community input on the Substantial Amendment, with options for virtual or in-person attendance on October 14, 2026, at 69 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
A recording of the public hearing is available for review:
The presentation shared at the public hearing is also available for review:
This information is also posted on our Public Notices page, where it is titled "Public Notice: Draft Substantial Amendment to the CDBG-DR Action Plan” under 2026 public notices.
Public hearing (July 15, 2025)
An important part of the process of developing the 2025 Draft CDBG-DR Action Plan was to promote citizen participation and solicit input. Cook County hosted a public hearing on July 15, 2025, at the Cal Comm Center in Calumet Park, Illinois, to hear the details regarding the 2025 Draft CDBG-DR Action Plan.
A recording of the public hearing is available for review:
The presentations shared during the public hearing are also available for review:
2025 Draft Cook County CDBG-DR Action Plan public hearing presentation (English)
2025 Draft Cook County CDBG-DR Action Plan public hearing presentation (Spanish)
Public hearing (July 16, 2025)
An important part of the process of developing the 2025 Draft CDBG-DR Action Plan was to promote citizen participation and solicit input. Cook County hosted a public hearing on July 16, 2025, at the Cook County Administration Building at 69 W. Washington St., in Chicago, Illinois, to hear the details regarding the 2025 Draft CDBG-DR Action Plan.
You may watch a full recording of the public hearing here:
You may also view just the presentation that was shared at the public hearing here:
2025 Draft Cook County CDBG-DR Action Plan public hearing presentation (English)
2025 Draft Cook County CDBG-DR Action Plan public hearing presentation (Spanish)
For citizens who require additional accommodations and/or language translations, please email Home.Response@cookcountyil.gov or call 312‐603‐1000.
This information is also posted on our public notices page, where it is titled "Public Notice - Draft CDBG-DR Action Plan" under 2025 public notices.
Response to 2013 floods
In 2013 and 2014, the Cook County Department of Planning and Development was allocated $83,616,000 in CDBG-DR funding in response to severe flooding that occurred in the spring of 2013 in suburban Cook County.
The announcements regarding the funding are available at:
March 2014 announcement
Below is information on the use of this funding, including action plans, performance reporting, policies, project updates and more.
CDBG-DR Action Plan and Amendments
- CDBG-DR Action Plan
- CDBG-DR Substantial Amendment 1
- CDBG-DR Substantial Amendment 2
- CDBG-DR Substantial Amendment 3
- CDBG-DR Substantial Amendment 4
- CDBG-DR Substantial Amendment 5
Quarterly Performance Reports
2025
NOTE: All 2025 quarterly performance reports are pending federal approval.
- CDBG-DR Quarterly Performance Report: January 2025 through March 2025
- CDBG-DR Quarterly Performance Report: April 2025 through June 2025
- CDBG-DR Quarterly Performance Report: July 2025 through September 2025
- CDBG-DR Quarterly Performance Report: October 2025 through December 2025
2024
NOTE: All 2024 quarterly performance reports are pending federal approval.
- Addison Creek Reservoir
- Calumet Park Stormwater System Renovation
- Northeast Riverdale Storm Relief Sewer Project
- Robbins Stormwater Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project
As a CDBG-DR funding recipient, the Cook County Department of Planning and Development was invited by HUD to apply for additional disaster resources through the National Disaster Resilience Competition. Along with an array of public, private, and non-profit partners, the Department submitted a Phase One application in early 2015. The Department advanced to the second and final round and submitted a Phase Two application in late 2015. While the Department's application for funding was ultimately not awarded, the related application effort facilitated new collaborations and strengthened existing partnerships. The Department continues to work to promote disaster recovery and resilience.