Full Text of HR0467 099th General Assembly
HR0467 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, Natural disasters that occur in Illinois test the | 3 | | preparation, cooperation, support, and resilience of our State | 4 | | and its peoples; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, On the evening of April 9, 2015, north central | 6 | | Illinois was struck by high violent winds and multiple | 7 | | tornados, inflicting damage and destruction in several | 8 | | communities, including Fairdale and Rochelle; 2 residents of | 9 | | the community of Fairdale, Geraldine Schultz and Jacqueline | 10 | | Klosa, lost their lives, while 77 structures were destroyed, | 11 | | 138 structures were damaged in this storm, and the surviving | 12 | | residents of these communities face years of recovery and | 13 | | rebuilding efforts; and
| 14 | | WHEREAS, The residents of these communities, like all who | 15 | | experience natural disasters, go through 4 distinct stages of | 16 | | need: Response, Relief, Recovery, and Rebuilding; and
| 17 | | WHEREAS, In the initial moments of the April 9 disaster, | 18 | | local first responders and neighbors reacted to rescue those | 19 | | trapped or in danger, evacuated survivors, and provided | 20 | | immediate medical attention to victims; following this | 21 | | immediate emergency response, State and regional agencies and | 22 | | organizations as well as hundreds of individuals provided |
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| 1 | | relief for those affected by the disaster by rendering | 2 | | provisions, including shelter, food, water, clothing, and | 3 | | financial assistance; and
| 4 | | WHEREAS, The recovery effort has turned to agencies and | 5 | | companies providing emotional support, information, continued | 6 | | financial assistance, insurance settlements, and planning for | 7 | | the rebuilding of lives and infrastructure; and | 8 | | WHEREAS, The final stage of the disaster is the rebuilding | 9 | | of strong, vibrant, and productive communities that will | 10 | | continue for years to come; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, A Long Term Recovery Committee has been formed in | 12 | | DeKalb County for the Fairdale community and in Rochelle to | 13 | | provide case management, volunteer organization, | 14 | | communication, spiritual and emotional healing, construction | 15 | | management, financial and insurance support, and to act as a | 16 | | liaison with government and non-government organizations; and
| 17 | | WHEREAS, These Long Term Recovery Committees have | 18 | | established 501(c)(3) funds for the survivors of this disaster | 19 | | as passed-through accounts at the Rochelle Community | 20 | | Foundation and the DeKalb County Community Foundation that will | 21 | | accept tax-deductible contributions, provide financial | 22 | | accounting and reporting, and assure that 100% of the donations |
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| 1 | | will benefit the survivors; and
| 2 | | WHEREAS, Though the area was declared a State disaster, | 3 | | little federal or State assistance is expected; and
| 4 | | WHEREAS, The Governor believes that the recovery can be | 5 | | fully funded by insurance and private company and foundation | 6 | | donations; as an example, he personally gave $100,000 to relief | 7 | | efforts; and | 8 | | WHEREAS, State Comptroller Leslie Munger has reminded | 9 | | State employees and retirees that they can donate a portion of | 10 | | their paychecks to the Red Cross' disaster relief efforts for | 11 | | the victims through a convenient website | 12 | | (http://give.illinoiscomptroller.com); and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, Contributions for the victims of the tornado that | 14 | | hit Fairdale can be made on the DeKalb County Community | 15 | | Foundation website (www.dekalbccf.org/announcements.php), | 16 | | while contributions for the victims of the tornado that hit | 17 | | Rochelle can be made on the Rochelle Area Community Foundation | 18 | | website (www.rochellefoundation.org); therefore, be it
| 19 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 20 | | NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | 21 | | thank the fire, police, and emergency medical providers from |
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| 1 | | across the region who responded quickly and in a coordinated | 2 | | manner; commend the individuals, businesses, organizations, | 3 | | and relief agencies including the Salvation Army and American | 4 | | Red Cross for their generosity, supplies, and assistance to the | 5 | | victims; and recognize the untiring services of the Illinois | 6 | | Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois State Police, the | 7 | | Illinois Conservation Police, the Illinois Department of | 8 | | Transportation, the DeKalb and Ogle County Emergency | 9 | | Management Agencies, and the DeKalb and Ogle County Sheriff's | 10 | | Offices; and be it further
| 11 | | RESOLVED, That, in reviewing the response to this disaster, | 12 | | we urge organizations to consider the lessons learned from this | 13 | | disaster, including faster public communication of needed | 14 | | supplies, a focal point to make financial donations, and the | 15 | | formation of Long Term Recovery Committees; and be it further | 16 | | RESOLVED, That we show our pride for the courage, strength, | 17 | | and resilience of these communities, state our continued | 18 | | support for these afflicted citizens, and resolve to keep these | 19 | | people in our hearts, minds, and prayers in the weeks, months, | 20 | | and years ahead as they recover and rebuild their communities | 21 | | and their lives; and be it further | 22 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent | 23 | | to the aforementioned organizations and the Mayors of Kirkland |
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| 1 | | and Rochelle.
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