TEUTOPOLIS, Ill. (WAND) — Central Illinois has endured months of tornadoes, flooding and severe storms. Gov. JB Pritzker traveled to Effingham County to see the damage firsthand.
After touring the Meyer family dairy farm, he called the destruction disheartening.
“I also mourn the loss of the memories and the things that make life livable and part of your everyday existence. Some of it may never get restored. Meanwhile, it's our job to try to help deliver what people are missing,” Pritzker said.
The Meyer dairy farm has been in the family for generations. Caleb Meyer, a sixth-generation farmer, said it feels like the tornado happened yesterday.
“The hardest part has been getting up every morning and looking at what was built — what took a lot of time and money to build — and knowing that it's just gone,” Meyer said.
Damaged grain silos and farm equipment have forced the family to pause operations until crews complete repairs.
The Meyers are not alone. Families across Illinois are asking what help will come after this latest round of severe weather.
Pritzker said the state's disaster proclamation is designed to unlock relief.
“The disaster proclamation allows us to open up other resources, including access to the Small Business Administration at the federal level — hopefully approving long-term, low-interest loans,” Pritzker said.
The proclamation also seeks FEMA assistance, but Pritzker said the agency has not responded yet. Any federal emergency aid ultimately depends on the administration.
“I’m hopeful that they will, and I hope we can work in a bipartisan fashion to get those resources from FEMA and get a good response to help our counties,” Pritzker said.
For now, Community Development Block Grant funds are available to some communities, but Pritzker said the money will not arrive quickly and is capped at $250,000.
“It’s something the Legislature helped us appropriate. It’s not going to be enough to do all the work that needs to get done. There’s infrastructure that has been severely damaged. It’s going to cost a lot more than $250,000,” Pritzker said.
As for the Meyer family, they said neighbors and friends have stepped up in a big way.
Pritzker said that support shows how these communities rally in the middle of a tragedy.
Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
