Recovery Efforts Continue After Thursday's Tornado
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Cleanup efforts continued Monday morning in north central Illinois, for those hit hard by last week's deadly tornado.
Neighbors in Fairdale and Rochelle have been rallying together to pick up the pieces, and get through this difficult time.
Survivors and volunteers spent the entire weekend cleaning, but there's still a lot of work left to do.
Bulldozers and other construction machinery have moved in to Fairdale to speed up the process, and pick up the heavier debris left behind after an EF-4 tornado damaged or destroyed virtually every building in the town.
In the midst of the cleaning, emotions have run high, and loved ones have comforted each other while they sift through the rubble, hoping to find lost keepsakes or valuables.
In neighboring Kirkland, congregations from at least 10 area churches came together on Sunday, to hold a prayer service for the neighbors killed or injured in the storm, and to give thanks for surviving the twister.
"I tear up to think about how this could happen to my family," Bonnie Lorensen said. "My sister's still in the hospital, but she's going to be okay. She's in intensive care right now, but everybody else, they're just bruises, just a few cuts, but they're fine, and they were all pulled out from underneath the rubble."
Two women, 67-year-old Geraldine Schultz and 69-year-old Jacklyn Klosa, who were friends and neighbors, were killed when the tornado hit their homes in Fairdale.
Officials have said at least 20 other people were injured when Fairdale and nearby Rochelle were hit by a tornado that had wind speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, and followed a path at least 28 miles long, and up to a half mile wide.
Many churches and organizations canceled their food drives over the weekend, saying the best way to help victims now is to donate cash and gift cards.
To donate to the Salvation Army, visit www.salarmychicago.org/donate, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or text the word SACHICAGO to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
To give to the Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
