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Kankakee officials urge continued storm recovery support as nonprofits seek space and funds
Summary
At the April 6 Kankakee City Council meeting, pastors and local relief organizations urged continued support for tornado-affected residents; the mayor outlined insurance inspections, contractor licensing updates and possible SBA gap-funding to help homeowners cover deductibles.
Kankakee — Pastors and community relief groups pressed the City Council on April 6 for continued help with tornado recovery as city officials described ongoing insurance inspections, contractor vetting and a possible state-supported Small Business Administration program to help residents with repair gap funding.
Pastor James Carr of Redeeming Life Ministry told the council the Roma Park neighborhood is still cleaning up from the storm and thanked local officials and volunteers for support, but asked the city not to stop providing supplies and aid. "We're doing better," Carr said, "but we still need your support, supplies, financial support if that's all possible." (Pastor James Carr)
Aaron and Takara Robinson of Stellar Rise said their disaster-relief operation has been overwhelmed by donated goods and requested donated storage or city-provided space, a truck, and monetary assistance to distribute supplies to tornado victims. Aaron Robinson told the council they had sought city help via email and social media without a timely response; he said Stellar Rise is prepared to continue relief efforts long-term.
Mayor Curtis and City Manager Kubal outlined the city's recovery work. Officials said insurance adjusters and a roofing contractor are inspecting damaged city property and vehicles (about 78 city vehicles were reported damaged); some city vehicles may be totaled while others will be repaired. The city is expediting permits for roof and gutter repairs and has posted a list of licensed contractors (about 165 currently listed). The mayor warned residents about unlicensed door-to-door solicitations and advised them to verify a contractor's local and state licenses with the city's clerk before signing agreements.
On possible financial assistance, city staff said they are coordinating with county and state officials to establish a program that would bring the SBA on-site to offer loans designed to fill insurance gap funding and handle deductibles. The program was described as not yet finalized but expected to be announced soon; officials said it will include multilingual outreach and online tools when it launches.
Why it matters: Many residents remain without repairs nearly a month after the storm. Council members and staff emphasized that recovery will take months and that sustained coordination between the city, county and volunteer groups will be required to get homes and infrastructure restored.
What’s next: Officials said they will publicize any SBA or state assistance as soon as details are finalized and urged residents to report contractor concerns to the city clerk's office.
Sources: Remarks by Pastor James Carr; Aaron and Takara Robinson of Stellar Rise; Mayor Curtis and City Manager Kubal during the April 6, 2026 Kankakee City Council meeting.
