Coal City Spared The Worst Of Latest Storm As Cleanup Continues
Updated 06/25/15 - 11:37 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Already reeling from a powerful tornado that touched down Monday night, residents of Coal City braced for the worst overnight as the threat of heavy rains cast a pall over cleanup efforts, but the town dodged a bullet, as the heaviest rains missed them.
There were heavy downpours overnight, but not nearly as much as had been expected, allowing residents to breathe a small sigh of relief Thursday morning. Coal City got less than three quarters of an inch of rain between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Already faced with so many challenges, residents were thankful the rains overnight did not cause a major setback to the recovery effort.
Heavy cleanup was underway just about everywhere you looked in Coal City on Thursday. Officials have estimated 1,400 properties were impacted by the tornado, to varying degrees.
Coal City saw some of the worst damage Monday night, after nine confirmed tornadoes touched down across Illinois.
Residents have lined up each morning the past few days to get back into their homes, and continue assessing the damage from Monday night's EF-3 tornado, which brought winds of up to 160 mph. Only cleanup and construction crews, and those with IDs showing they live in Coal City were allowed back into the storm-damaged area.
Contractors have been working around the clock the past couple days, in an effort to cover damaged buildings with tarps, to protect them from more rain. Heavy equipment has been brought in to demolish structures deemed a total loss.
Though life has continued moving forward, the memories of Monday's storm remained fresh for the victims.
"Just trying to figure out what the next step might be, trying to figure out a little more permanent place to stay. Probably end up going down to my hometown of Dwight," Pat Halliday said.
Coal City Police Chief Tom Nolan said there is still a lot of debris to clean up, and power has not yet been fully restored to the town. A fleet of ComEd trucks remained in Coal City on Thursday, completing repairs to power lines to restore service to a significant portion of the town. All but a handful of homes remained without service Thursday morning.
Volunteers who want to help the recovery area can go to Coal City on Friday, for a day of volunteer service. Officials have asked volunteers to meet at 9 a.m. Friday at the Diamond Banquet Hall, at 55 S. Daly St. in neighboring Diamond, and to bring their own work boots, long pants, and work gloves.