Dongola townsfolk rally to aid tornado victims
Dongola residents and volunteers from nearby towns mobilized after a deadly tornado. Red Cross workers, church groups, and area businesses donated food, water, and supplies while neighbors assisted with tarps, boards, and rescue efforts. Disaster teams from Metropolis units pledged rapid response within 100 miles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dongola
Red Cross
McGinnis
Fairfield
Anna Pizza Hut
Anna Wal-Mart
Baptist Church
Cobden
Allin Baptist Church
Damage minimal in Perry County storm event
Perry County officials reported minimal damage after a weekend storm. Pinckneyville siren activation at 11 45 p m warned residents of potential tornadoes amid high winds and heavy rain. Tamaroa suffered the most with downed trees and power outages while Du Quoin noted no confirmed tornado activity despite unconfirmed funnel cloud reports.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Perry County
Pinckneyville
ESDA
Jerry Smith
Lesser
Smith
Tamaroa
du Quoin Esda
David Searby Jr
Searby
Wayne County Tornado Leaves Death and Destruction In Wayne City
Linda A Krutsinger reports an April 22 tornado ripping through Wayne County, killing neighbor Michael D. Watkinson, 47, demolishing a mobile home, injuring LaDonna Jourdan, 68, and slicing trees with twisted trunks and stranded debris along a path from west of Wayne City to its eastern edge. Residents recount the eerie white sky, rapid onset, and slow realization of the damage as they sheltered and later surveyed the wreckage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wayne City
Elizabeth Fenton
James
Wayne County
Fenton
Michael D. Watkinson
LaDonna Jourdan
American Legion
Jefferson
James Fenton
Wayne County Twister Damage Prompts Disaster Declaration Request
Gov George H. Ryan seeks more than 4.9 million in damage and recovery costs after an April 22 tornado that carved a 15 mile path from Sims to Fairfield injuring over 50 residents. Residents recount loss, neighborly help, and the Jourdan family preserves wedding certificate amid rubble as police praise community solidarity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wayne County
Sims
Fairfield
George H. Ryan
Bush
Jourdan
Wayne City
CalLisa Cullins
Lesser man drives through tornado and survives
Justin Dickey, 20, of Sesser, recounts a near miss with a tornado early Sunday while driving from West Frankfort to Lesser on Illinois 154. He describes losing control, tearing through wind and debris, a transformer explosion lighting the sky, and driving past a blown pole barn as he made it to safety.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sesser
Justin Dickey
Dickey
West Frankfort
Lesser
Illinois 154
Rend Lake
Eeriy Justin Dickey
Cleanup under way as Dongola rebuilds after tornado
Dongola and nearby towns struggle to recover after a powerful storm system. Police and fire crews from multiple communities assist. power and phone service are restored in parts, with a Wednesday reopening hoped for. Red Cross serves meals. 400 by Sunday, 200 to 300 more by Monday. Local schools plan to resume by Wednesday, Cypress weighing relocation options after a wall collapse. National toll includes six deaths and 100 plus injuries. an F5 tornado struck La Plata Maryland, with extreme winds and widespread damage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dongola
Marion
Herrin
Rick Acuff
Nancy Dillon
Red Cross
Richard Reavis
Cypress
Sharon Oliver
Dixon Springs
Illinois Department of Transportation
Mike Taylor
Tamms
Taylor
Galatia
First Baptist Church
Joe Hazel
Vergennes
Wal-Mart
Leon Russell
Russell Oil Co
Russell
Eric Brannock
Country Companies
Locust Street
Main
Saline County
Jim Dunn
Illinois
Missouri
Maryland
la Plata
National Weather Service
Charles County
Calvert County
Also Mentioned on This Page
John Snell
Paul Sadler
Sadler
Union Baptist Association
Metropolis
Paul McGinnis
Perry
Christi Mathis
Linda A. Krutsinger
Albert Jourdan
Lesser-Valier High School
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