Morris Daily Herald from Morris, Illinois • Page 8

Gov. Bruce Rauner visits Coal City, declares state disaster Gov. Bruce Rauner shakes hands with Gary Rink Tuesday while touring took shelter in their basement and relied on neighbors to dig them out built in 2000, Diann and Garry didn't suffer any injuries. the destructing of residential areas once the storm passed. Despite the Eric Ginnard eginnardshawmedia.com in Coal City.

Rink and his wife, Diann, condition of their house, which was TORNADO Continued from page 3 in Lee County, categorized as a preliminary EF2. The NWS also confirmed an EF1 tornado in Mendota, a "high-end" EF2 with winds up to 130 miles per hour in Sublette, and an EF1 in Harmon. State disaster declaration given Gov. Bruce Rauner, in town to see the damage firsthand, declared during a news conference around noon held at Coal City High School that Grundy County was a state disaster area. The governor offered state resources mostly personnel to affected communities.

He said federal aid is unlikely, but state officials won't know until the damage is assessed over the next several days. "Here in Coal City, the devastation has been widespread," Rauner said. "We want to say thank you to the many volunteers, the state police have been terrific as always, thank you to the mayor here in Coal City. This is what Illinois is all about: the community coming together and helping each other." Thankful to be alive Halloran and Copes rose above ground to assess the damage in the dark of night with sheets of rain still falling. They smelled natural gas coming from a house across the street, and parts of that house had caved in.

The group walked and checked on neighbors. They were thankful to be alive, but amazed by the devastation, Halloran said. "It wasn't until we walked a few houses down and across the street, to the Rices' home, that I looked back and realized our bedroom wall was gone," Halloran said. When Halloran was able to see the inside wall of the bedroom, he noticed a crucifix and rosary were somehow still on the other wall. "It's one of those freaky things," Halloran said.

Past tornadoes and severe weather haven't affected the neighborhood, he said. But as a precautionary measure in Eric Ginnard eginnardshawmedia.com An American flag waves in the wind as flood water laps against the debris of a house Tuesday in Coal City. A tornado ripped through Will and Grundy Counties Monday night, but only left minor injuries and no reported fatalities. severe weather events, homeowners on West Daisy Place head for a house with a basement. "We typically get a call or text a little while before the warnings come," Copes said.

Such was the case late Monday night, as the Halloran home, and many others in the neighborhood, became unlivable for the immediate future. Some will have to be completely rebuilt. The Hallorans spent the night at a friend's house and planned to stay Tuesday night at their camper at the Coal City Area Club. When they returned home Tuesday morning, and saw the house in daylight, the See TORNADO, page 9 Eric Ginnard eginnardshawmedia.com Linemen and emergency crews work to restore power lines and infrastructure Tuesday after a tornado ripped though Coal City Monday night..