The Chicago area has been awarded nearly $31.5 million worth of federal disaster recovery funding for communities still grappling with the effects of severe storms and flooding that swept throughout Illinois back in April of 2013.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle made the funding announcement on Tuesday. The money is part of the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Last April, extreme weather caused some of the worst flooding that I have ever seen in the Chicago area and forced hundreds of families to leave their homes,” Durbin said in a statement. “These storms were so severe that many communities in and around Chicago have still not fully recovered from the devastation. This federal disaster aid is welcome news for Illinois families and communities that are still working to repair the damage and continue rebuilding their lives.”

The disaster aid, according to a release from the governor's office, was "made available through the FY2013 Sandy Supplemental Appropriations Bill, passed by Congress last year, and is part of a third allocation for communities that are continuing recovery efforts following severe storms and flooding that began on April 18, 2013."

The city of Chicago is set to receive a little more than $11 million of the disaster recovery funds, while $14.8 million is allocated for Cook County and $5.6 million will go to DuPage County.

“Families throughout Illinois are still recovering from last year’s record floods even as more rain continues to fall,” Quinn added. “This critical funding will help many throughout the Chicago area get back on their feet and rebuild. I thank President Obama, Senator Durbin and members of the Congressional delegation for coming together to secure this vital assistance for families who need it.”