Pritzker surveys damage after Belvidere theater collapse
BELVIDERE, Ill. (CBS) -- The National Weather Service has now confirmed 16 tornadoes touched down in Illinois and Indiana Friday, including an EF-1 that caused the roof and marquee of the Apollo Theatre to collapse in Belvidere, as 260 people were attending a concert.
Gov. JB Pritzker took in the damage along with other state officials on Sunday, as the town grapples with the tragedy that killed 50-year-old Frederick Livingston Jr., and injured more than 40 other people at the theater.
Cleaning up the damage here could take weeks, if not longer. Fences still surrounded the Apollo Theatre on Monday, a big pile of debris still standing next to the building.
"We're just here kind of paying our respects to the person who passed away and all the injured," said Belvidere resident Hallem Ortiz.
Many people, like the Ortiz family, have stopped by the ruins of the Apollo Theater to pay their respects to Livingston. He attended a sold-out heavy metal concert Friday night, and later died after the roof collapsed on him and other concert goers.
His sister, Deana Hicks, said he was a loving father of three and had five grandchildren.
"Our community is heartbroken," said Belvidere Mayor Clint Morris. "Our thoughts and prayers continue for Fred Livingston, his families, his loved ones and all those injured in this tragedy."
At least 260 people were inside the theatre for concert at the time of the storm. Emergency officials said ambulances made almost 30 trips to the emergency room on Friday night, taking in patient after patient.
Sunday morning, Pritzker revealed 48 people were injured and five are still in critical condition.
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Alcia Tate Nadeau said tornado sirens went off and the band took a break right before the tornado touched down.
"If it wasn't for the fast and coordinated efforts on Friday night, we would have seen a more tragic outcome from events from today," she said.
Pritzker added that concertgoers were told to go to the basement for shelter, but there just was not enough time for everyone to get to the basement before the impact.
"It happened so quickly there after that, as far as I understand, no one was able to actually get to that shelter in time," he said.
Pritzker has issued an emergency proclamation to unlock immediate resources for communities across Illinois impacted by the tornadoes and severe weather, including Boone County.
"I've also spoken with the federal FEMA director and the Secretary of Homeland Security in Washington in pursuit of additional federal resources here in the community," he said.
It's unknown what the total cost is for the damage assessment. The Illinois Emergency Management team said it will take 48 to 72 hours to assess not only Belvidere, but also the entire state.
