[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4929]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           ILLINOIS TORNADOES

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, last week on Thursday, the evil forces of 
nature struck in Fairdale, IL. Since that moment of terrible loss--two 
lives and many injuries, terrible property destruction--we have seen 
the better angels of our nature come forward.
  This is an all-too-common picture in my part of the world in central 
Illinois and downstate Illinois. This is the devastation from a tornado 
of dramatic power and strength. Two twisters--one of them a category 
EF-4, with wind speeds of up to 200 miles an hour--tore through DeKalb 
and Ogle Counties and badly damaged the towns of Fairdale and Rochelle 
last Thursday evening. That picture tells part of the story of the 
tornadoes' path, where giant trees were uprooted, homes ripped from 
their foundations. The damage is stunning.
  Sadly, two women, neighbors who lived in Fairdale, lost their lives 
in the event. Geraldine Schultz and a close friend and neighbor, 
Jacklyn Klosa, both fell victim to the tornado that struck their homes. 
Neighbors say the two friends were inseparable in life and both 
departed life at the same moment.
  The tight-knit communities of Fairdale and Rochelle are pulling 
together today to help victims sort through the rubble. One tornado 
tracked a 25-mile continuous path from near Rochelle through Fairdale, 
to near Belvidere.
  This is a photo of what was, until Thursday, a popular restaurant in 
the town of Rochelle, IL, about 80 miles from Chicago. Twelve people, 
including diners and staff, were inside Grubsteakers Restaurant when 
the tornado struck. It was a miracle. Everybody made it into the 
basement just in time before the twister hit. They all survived, though 
they were trapped in the basement for an hour and a half waiting for 
rescue crews to clear them.
  A few people had to be treated for cuts and bruises. Everyone was 
covered in thick dust that had blown from overhead, but they lived 
through it, a terrible, terrifying ordeal. On Friday I spoke and again 
on Saturday with the director, the head of the Illinois Emergency 
Management Agency, James Joseph. Governor Rauner was out at the scene 
the next day after the tornado. We sent our staff there to monitor any 
possible Federal assistance that might be coordinated with the State 
and local effort.
  We are continuing to gather the information together to see if there 
is a possibility of Federal help, but I have been very wary because of 
two recent experiences in Illinois--in Washington, IL, and Harrisburg--
where tornado damage there looked so devastating and still did not meet 
the threshold qualification for Federal assistance.
  When I spoke with Rochelle Mayor Chet Olson, and DeKalb County board 
chairman Mark Pietrowski, I told them to do their homework and keep 
track of their expenses but that it was a long shot for Federal help. I 
made it clear the delegation and I stand ready to help in any way we 
can, particularly working with the Governor.
  As is so often the case when a disaster such as this strikes, the 
first responders, friends, and family members wasted no time rushing to 
the aid of people whose homes and businesses were damaged. I have no 
doubt the people in Fairdale, Rochelle, and all of the other areas that 
were struck will clean up and rebuild. They will mourn the loss of 
life, they will heal the wounds of those who were injured, and they 
will start tomorrow to make another day.
  For the families of the women who lost their lives and for everybody 
who lost homes and property, our thoughts are with you.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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