Program Summary
Disaster Profile
On November 17 , 2013 an EF4 tornado struck down on Central Illinois with a destructive path spanning over 40 miles long, which damaged over 400 homes in Washington alone. Given the scope of damage in this area and the outpouring of local volunteer efforts, we launched Rapid Response Central Illinois.
November 17, 2013 will be remembered as one of the most tornadic days on record. 55 tornadoes swept across 7 states, with most of the damage occurring in the states of Illinois and Indiana. Within 24 hours of the initial storms, we had an Assessment Team en route.
Our Work
While on the ground, our team decided to focus our Rapid Response on areas in and around Washington, Illinois. For the initial stages of tornado relief, we helped with debris removal, salvaging, and tree work using a local volunteer force over the span two weeks. While working in freezing temperatures, we coordinated over 500 local and corporate volunteers who weren’t afraid of a little cold to help those in need!
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