The city of Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois are appealing President Donald Trump’s denial last week of a disaster declaration that would have unlocked federal financial assistance for survivors and public repairs after heavy rains and flooding in the state in July and August.

A joint news release on Tuesday noted that flooding from the storms on July 25-28 and Aug. 16-19 caused “widespread property damage, prolonged power outages, and significant disruptions to transportation and essential services” across Illinois. The heavy rains displaced residents , left thousands without electricity, led to collapsed ceilings from water damage, flooded basements and roadways, overflowed rivers , broken boilers, furnaces and other large appliances, and triggered ground stops a

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