Coal City continues to rebuild 1 year after EF-3 tornado

ByLaura Podesta WLS logo
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Coal City marks 1 year since EF-3 tornado
Exactly one year since an EF-3 tornado ripped through Coal City, residents are bracing for another round of potentially severe storms.

COAL CITY, Ill. (WLS) -- Exactly one year since an EF-3 tornado ripped through Coal City, residents are bracing for another round of potentially severe storms.

PHOTOS: Illinois tornado outbreak on June 22, 2015

Every time he looks at dark ominous clouds, Pat Hollaran is transported back to June 22, 2015. When a tornado left his home - and dozens more in Coal City - badly damaged.

"You know, a lot of emotions. Anger is one that comes through. Why'd this happen to us?" Halloran said.

One year later, his home is rebuilt and looks picture perfect.

"We got back in November we're settled now. Pretty fortunate," he said.

But there's always the threat of another storm. And on Wednesday, the one year anniversary, the forecast includes the possibility of a tornado.

"It just makes everyone have a little anxiety. I'm sure that there's a lot nervous people today. If the wind picks up, there will be a lot of nervous people," said Michele Skroblus, who lives in Coal City.

Others in the neighborhood are still in the process of rebuilding. Even if they avoid a tornado today, high winds hail and rain could hinder their progress.

But people in Coal City can't and won't live in fear. Rebuilding after last year's storm has been difficult, as many are balancing jobs or daycare at the same time they are trying to claim insurance and rebuild. But, they say these storms are making them resilient.