[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 40 (Monday, March 12, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1571-S1572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ILLINOIS TORNADOES

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, it was just about 10 days ago that a 
tornado struck Harrisburg, IL. This is a picture of some of the 
devastation. It doesn't tell the story.
  I have been a child of Illinois and grew up in what we consider to be 
Tornado Alley. Being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night with 
the air raid siren blaring and my dad heading down into the basement 
was just one of the rites of passage. Luckily, our home was never hit, 
but we saw a lot of homes that were. They might have some shingles torn 
off and siding ripped away, windows broken, and maybe in the worst case 
a roof actually lifted off a house.
  This case here was an extraordinary one. The picture can't even 
depict the story. It was a level 4 tornado--and level 5 is the 
highest--with 175 mile-an-hour winds, or winds more powerful than 
Hurricane Katrina, and it hit this little town of Harrisburg, IL, and 
about 20 miles away the town of Ridgway, IL.
  I went down and took a look. I saw homes that had been torn off their 
slab foundations and tossed around like toys. Seven people died as a 
result of this tornado. There might have been more, but it was a 
tornado that struck at about 5 a.m., and many people were home. Had 
they been outside or shopping at one of the malls that were 
obliterated, many more people would have died. Fortunately, more 
didn't.
  The heroic efforts by the local people at every single level really 
made me proud to represent that State and my family having roots in 
that part of the State. It was a great outpouring of caring, affection, 
and even bravery as people rescued those who were lost and covered by 
the debris. The Red Cross was on the scene right away. The Illinois 
Emergency Management Agency was there as well. Everybody pitched in, 
both in Harrisburg and in Ridgway.
  We finished our job, and we heard, as I was leaving on Saturday--this 
was 10 days ago--that the Federal agencies were on their way this last 
Monday, a week ago today. I felt confident, Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois 
felt confident, and our State emergency management director, Jonathan 
Monken, also felt confident that we would get the Federal designation. 
That is why it was absolutely stunning when we learned yesterday that 
FEMA turned down these communities.
  Take a look at this shopping center that literally collapsed. 
Fortunately,

[[Page S1572]]

no one was in it at 5 a.m. The devastation from 175 mile-an-hour winds 
could be seen all over Harrisburg and the town of Ridgway, where the 
local Catholic church was devastated.
  This decision by FEMA is out of touch with reality--the reality of 
the damage and the suffering and the reality of this notion that 
somehow the State and local governments can take care of this.

  Historically we have said that when a storm reaches a certain 
threshold of damage, the Federal Government steps in. In my time in the 
House and Senate, I have never, ever questioned that decision. I have 
stepped up to help every State in the Union with disaster assistance, 
knowing that this could happen to my State.
  Now, when FEMA says we don't qualify for Federal assistance, it means 
that the Small Business Administration is not likely to help businesses 
in the area with disaster recovery small business loans, for example. 
As we can see from the photos I have shown, disaster loans are going to 
be desperately needed by businesses in the area. Harrisburg is going to 
have a difficult if not impossible time coming back from this disaster 
without help.
  Our State of Illinois can't do it on its own. Governor Quinn and 
Jonathan Monken have determined that the damage is just too severe for 
the State. I spoke with the Governor this morning. He is going to 
appeal the FEMA decision. We are joining him, on a bipartisan basis--
Senator Kirk's office is joining our office--to appeal this FEMA 
decision. Come Wednesday, in my office here in the U.S. Capitol, we are 
inviting the Administrator of FEMA to come in and make the case as to 
why this devastation doesn't warrant Federal disaster designation. 
Sixteen thousand people in these small communities have been displaced 
from their homes. Local leaders and volunteers have turned up from 
everywhere, but they can't do it alone. We need to have the Federal 
Government providing its level of assistance to make sure these 
communities are made whole, put back together so life can go on. We can 
never, ever replace the seven lives that were lost, but let's replace 
the spirit of those communities with Federal, State, and local 
cooperation.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
  Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, before I speak about an amendment I 
have on the Transportation bill, I wish to commend my friend, the 
Senator from Illinois, for fighting for his people. I understand what 
it is like to have devastation happen in a State, and I want to thank 
him and let him know the people of Michigan certainly stand with the 
people of Illinois and want to be supportive at a time like this 
because this could happen to any one of us. So I thank him for being 
such a champion for the people he represents.

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