Sharen Renee Parish is still dealing with the aftermath of severe flooding that struck her Gage Park home in August 2025. Like many residents across Chicago’s South and West sides, she faced significant damage after torrential storms between August 16 and 19 caused widespread basement flooding.
Parish estimates she has spent several thousand dollars on cleaning supplies to address the persistent smell of sewage water. She uses a circulating fan, keeps doors open for fresh air even in winter, and regularly pours bleach down her drains. As an asthmatic and senior citizen, she said the cost and labor have been challenging.
“For senior citizens like myself or people with disabilities, it is so condescending to know you won’t receive help just because someone is Democrat and someone else is not,” Parish said. “I’m tired of hearing both sides talk about each other. I just want to keep my house for generational wealth for my grandkids.”
Governor JB Pritzker sought federal disaster aid following the storms, which affected Cook, Boone, Kane, McHenry, and Will counties. The request was denied by President Donald Trump’s administration in October 2025. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reaffirmed this decision in a letter dated February 7, stating that assistance was “not warranted for this incident.”
Pritzker criticized the denial as politically motivated. “Playing politics with disaster relief funding is a new low, even for the Trump administration,” Pritzker said after FEMA’s announcement. “Ignoring the realities of widespread damage from the August 2025 severe storms speaks volumes about the federal government’s vindictive priorities and complete disregard for American livelihoods.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson also objected to the federal response and promised continued efforts to seek aid. He joined local officials last August visiting affected neighborhoods and pledged at a recent press conference: “I’m going to use every single tool that’s available to me to protect our people in our city, [and] to ensure that we receive our fair share from the federal government, particularly when these families desperately need relief as quickly as possible.”
With no federal support forthcoming, community groups are stepping up their efforts while city leaders explore local solutions.
Nedra Sims Fears, executive director of Greater Chatham Initiative, highlighted community responses such as planting trees in flood-prone areas and partnering with university scientists to study flooding issues. The group has also launched an app with University of Chicago researchers to track incidents and encourage neighbor communication.
“[Flooding] a huge amount of work that’s not your fault,” Fears said. “It’s traumatic enough going through it and then addressing it. Having your claim halted creates another trauma.” She called for city and state officials to consider legal action against what she sees as an arbitrary denial of needed funds: “I’m tired of being a political pawn,” Fears said. “We don’t want to just survive — we want to thrive. To have to be on the defensive to guarantee basic rights is unsettling.”
Princess Shaw co-chairs the West Side Long-Term Recovery Group and described ongoing recovery struggles since record-breaking floods hit Austin in July 2023—where nearly one-quarter of homes experienced severe damage due partly to outdated infrastructure.
“The only answers that they could tell us was that it was going to take a lot of money in order to get these things done and get them upgraded,” Shaw said regarding city officials’ response before Trump took office. She urged local authorities not just dwell on past challenges but act now: “Let’s start getting ourselves together,” Shaw said.
Alderman Marty Quinn (13th) explained his focus on identifying weaknesses in sewer systems within his ward using real-time data collection methods such as heat mapping consecutive basement floods reported via 311 calls.
“I get the sewer system was overwhelmed, but we have to do everything in our power to minimize that as much as possible as a city,” Quinn said.
Alderwoman Stephanie Coleman (16th) spoke about working closely with constituents who suffered serious losses during floods—including elderly residents who struggled with mold removal—and stressed bipartisan cooperation over political divisions: “Regardless of how the president feels about our governor and our mayor, when it comes to helping families, we should not be victims of their issues,” Coleman said.
She added that local leaders must find creative ways forward: “The federal government’s decision is a setback, ‘but this is where [alderpeople] get creative and band together.’” Coleman encouraged residents especially vulnerable ones like seniors or those on fixed incomes—to take proactive steps such as reviewing insurance options ahead of spring rains.
Parish continues taking precautions by purchasing shelving units for her basement but remains concerned about affording future repairs on her $1,800 monthly income amid rising property taxes. She lamented losing family photos and mementos but hopes elected officials will provide more support moving forward:
“The sewer water killed my basement,” Parish said. “To this day, I’m still finding nooks and crannies, things damaged by the flood.”
