Emergency agencies assess, document damage from deadly Kankakee County tornado

Emergency assessment teams from the county, state, and federal levels were out in Kankakee County Wednesday to document the damage from a deadly tornado that hit more than two weeks ago.

Brandon Tomblin and his family are still dealing with the cleanup and destruction in Aroma Park, including damage to his childhood home of 40 years.

“I can’t believe it, it’s unrecognizable for me because I’ve been here for so long,” he said. “It don’t look like it used to.”

The husband and father of two is trying to salvage what he can before moving his family into a temporary home and said it will take six months to a year for them to rebuild.

“Never would I have thought about it,” he said holding back tears. “Everything that we worked for is gone.”

His family’s home was among more than 600 properties damaged or destroyed in the EF3 tornado that hit Kankakee County on March 10^th.

More than two weeks later, FEMA was on the ground at the request of the state to conduct a joint preliminary damage assessment.

FEMA said its working in teams with the state and county officials to verify the damage.

“Basically we’re looking to document the damage and have conversations with residents to understand the severity and the magnitude and the impact this storm has had on a community,” said Kim Keblish, FEMA Public Affairs Specialist.

Six teams were out in the hardest hit areas going from door-to-door and property to property. A FEMA spokesperson said once the assessment is completed it will go to the state to determine whether Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker will request a major disaster declaration.

“If the governor makes a request, and if that request is approved, FEMA would be able to provide assistance to residents that have been affected,” said Kemblish. “So this may look like money towards home repairs, money towards temporary housing assistance money to fix or repair a vehicle.”

Assessment teams will be back out Thursday. There is no word yet on when the governor will receive the final assessment to determine whether federal assistance is needed.