[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13635]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                WOOD DALE AND GRAYSLAKE, ILLINOIS STORMS

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, once again, Illinois communities are 
assessing damage from severe storms. A confirmed tornado along with 
heavy winds, hail, and lightning moved through the Chicago area on 
Sunday leaving a path of damage in several communities.
  The city of Wood Dale was hit Sunday afternoon during the last day of 
its Prairie Fest, an annual 4-day festival with rides, food, and music. 
Due to the storm, rides were stopped and organizers tried to evacuate. 
But the storm approached too quickly, and its winds knocked down the 
festival's main tent where many people had gathered to take shelter.
  Twenty people were hurt and, tragically, Steven Nincic was killed. He 
was at the festival with his wife and two young daughters. Our thoughts 
and prayers are with Steven Nincic's family, as they are with those who 
were injured by the storm. I spoke this morning with Wood Dale's Mayor 
Nunzio Pulice, and I know he is leading the community through this 
loss.
  Severe weather continued throughout the day in the Chicago area. 
Chicago's Lollapalooza music festival evacuated its festival grounds at 
Grant Park before its scheduled closing. Mayor Emanuel and I also spoke 
this morning. He is working to assess the damage and help residents 
clean up and recover from the damage.
  My office is also in touch with Mayor Rhett Taylor of the Village of 
Grayslake, Mayor Kristina Kovarik with Village of Gurnee, and Illinois 
Representative Sam Yingling. These communities are hurting in the 
aftermath of Sunday's terrible storms that brought winds at 60 miles an 
hour and golf ball-sized hail.
  A tornado touched down in Grayslake, ripping the roof off the high 
school and damaging several other buildings and homes. These storms 
also toppled power lines and trees, making several roads in the area 
impassable. Crews are working to clean up debris and restore 
electricity. Over 16,000 people were left without power this morning. 
Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the Grayslake 
storms.
  Along with other members of the Illinois congressional delegation, I 
stand ready to help in any way I can as the people in Dale Wood and 
Grayslake begin the clean-up and recovery from this weekend's deadly 
storms.
  The State of Illinois has sustained extensive damage and managed 
cleanup costs following a number of severe storms already this year. I 
stand ready to support any request for Federal disaster aid, including 
the Governor's request today for FEMA's assistance with damage 
assessments in downstate communities still recovering from earlier 
storms.

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