EGYPT LAKE, Ill. — People are still recovering from a tornado that hit the area on Memorial Day.
The Salvation Army is still working to help those affected, said Jacob Heiser, central district resource manager for the Salvation Army.
At first, he said, they focused on food and hydration, but now they have shifted to debris management.
They brought in a skid steer loader, a UTV and a command center from Territory headquarters.
A large number of downed trees and debris prevented access to the property. The Salvation Army is working with the county to remove debris and trees so people can return to their homes as quickly as possible.
Because the road they were working on was not a county road but a private road, the work was delayed. The debris prevented emergency vehicles from entering safely.
“So there's definitely a lack of gravel, culverts and heavy equipment at this particular moment,” Heiser said. “The county does not have access to private roads.”
Due to lack of access, residents need help from private organizations.
Some of those needs include heavy equipment such as bobcats, loaders, skid steers and dump trucks that can remove items and deliver them to county burn sites.
Heiser said he finds working and helping residents very rewarding.
“I'm seeing good progress here,” he said. “We've been able to achieve a few big goals, but there's definitely more work to do.”
Mark Dismang has lived near Egypt Lake for 15 years, and Memorial Day was his first tornado experience.
“I opened the back door and I said, 'Baby [his wife]Wind, listen, it's coming. We closed the door and ran to the bathroom, where the floor started to shake. We got there just in time. And then it only lasted like two minutes and then it was over,” he said.
Disment said he didn't know what he would encounter when it was finally safe to go outside.
“You know, then I thought it couldn't be that bad. Walked out. I thought, 'What?'” he said. It was the RV in his yard, and his life now spans the entire estate.
“The wall is right here. That's all the stuff in the garage. I think the garage saved the house because it took the brunt of the damage,” he said.
There are several residents in Dismant's position who are still struggling.
Roads are in poor condition and debris has made it impossible for many people in the area to get home.
Still, there is a lot of joy as progress continues, but recovery takes time.
“We're starting to see people working through their emotions,” Heiser said. “Our home is standing, you know, that's the most important thing. Of course, we're not hurt, we're not injured. So I'm grateful for that,” Disman said.
The Salvation Army is working with county emergency management and county road engineers on a daily basis on this issue.
