FEMA, other agencies document storm damage in Homewood, Illinois
Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State of Illinois were in the south Chicago suburb of Homewood on Wednesday morning, going door-to-door to document the damage caused by the storms last month.
Neighbors say it was a sight for sore eyes to see Illinois and FEMA officials talking to neighbors, but they are hoping for some relief.
"I'm just glad that they're noticing that something really happened here," said resident Traci Archbold. "I thought just maybe they forgot about us because it's been so long."
Archbold says work still needs to be done at her home and that her neighborhood got hit hard by the storm. She says she had a chance to speak with FEMA officials.
"They were asking me about the neighbors. If I knew any of the neighbors. Any damage that I could see from here."
"What we're really looking for is the damages that have some costs associated with them in the major and what we call destroyed categories, where there was a living space and it took out a bedroom, and now you have to throw all of that out including the carpet and the bed; maybe an apartment-style place, you know, you have to take those things away," said Illinois Emergency Management Agency recovery division chief Greg Nimmo.
CBS News Chicago spotted Illinois and FEMA officials in Homewood on Wednesday morning, going door to door, documenting the damage caused by last month's storms. Fourteen teams were dispersed to eight counties in Illinois.
Homeland Security and FEMA officials, when it comes to flood damage, want to know how many inches or feet of water entered their home and whether it impacted primary living space.
"For high wind, we're looking to especially understand — are these structural impacts, or are they more cosmetic impacts to the home?" said FEMA Public Information Officer Kim Keblish.
When asked how quickly homeowners will see the money, FEMA officials say the state has to put in a request, which they say hasn't been done yet.
"Once, if and when that request is submitted and approved, we will be implementing the program immediately," Keblish said.
In the meantime, Archbold is hoping for relief soon.
"Hopefully people get the help they need because it's been really bad."
FEMA officials say that after they assess the damage, the state will analyze the data and the governor will decide if they'd like to request federal support.
A tree also came down onto the roof of at least one house in Homewood during the Aug. 11 storms, which came as gigantic piles of mulch, tree limbs, and branches were already lying around from storms that hit earlier in the summer.
Homewood was also hit by destructive storms in late July. On Monday, July 27, an EF-1 tornado impacted Homewood, as well as Country Club Hills, Hazel Crest, and Harvey.
