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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, August 28, 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of one
3of the worst natural disasters to ever hit the State of
4Illinois, the tornado in Will County, which was the only F-5
5twister to ever hit the Chicago area; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In the afternoon hours of that fateful Tuesday, a
77-mile long, 700-foot wide tornado touched down in Will County,
8which brought torrential rainfall and wind speeds in excess of
9260 miles per hour; the tornado created a path of destruction
10that passed directly over Plainfield and stretched over 16
11miles before the twister went airborne over Joliet; and
 
12    WHEREAS, In the aftermath of the storm, 29 people were
13killed, including one person who died after the storm as a
14consequence of damage to his home, and over 350 people were
15injured; the tornado also destroyed or damaged a church, a
16library, a fire station, 3 school buildings, over 100 apartment
17units, and over 1,000 single family homes; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The towns of Plainfield, Crest Hill, and Joliet
19were so badly damaged they were declared federal and state
20disaster areas by President George H.W. Bush and Illinois
21Governor James Thompson; after generating national media
22attention regarding the size, strength, and devastation

 

 

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1associated with the tornado, relief efforts were led by the
2National Guard and involved almost all of the dedicated
3citizens of the affected area; and
 
4    WHEREAS, In the face of such adversity, the citizens of
5Plainfield, Will County, and the surrounding area stepped up to
6the plate to rebuild homes, schools, and other structures,
7while also rebuilding relationships with neighbors and
8strengthening the bond they have with their communities; and
 
9    WHEREAS, In the 20 years following this disaster, the
10section of Will County affected by this storm has become one of
11the most prosperous and fastest-growing, in terms of
12population, regions in the state; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The anniversary of this event should serve to
14remember the men, women, and children who perished in this
15natural disaster and honor and praise those who survived the
16trial and aided the relief and rebuilding efforts; therefore,
17be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
20remember those who were killed by the Will County tornado of
21August 28, 1990, praise those who survived the tornado, and
22show our admiration for the resolve of the affected communities

 

 

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1in their superb rebuilding efforts; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
3presented to the Mayor Michael Collins of Plainfield, Mayor Ray
4Soliman of Crest Hill, Mayor Arthur Schultz of Joliet, the Will
5County Board, Principal Robert Smith of Plainfield High School,
6and Dr. John Harper, Superintendent of Plainfield Consolidated
7Community School District #202, as a symbol of our respect and
8esteem.