The Streator City Council convened for the first time since the storm, which damaged or destroyed dozens of homes. Utility crews continue working to restore power in the hardest-hit areas.
"Our report says 39 homes have services cut off and so ten have been restored in the area. But obviously, with some of the more severe, severely damaged homes, it's going to be hard to restore those services," said Streator City Manager Yates McLaughin at Wednesday's city council meeting.
City officials say about 80% of debris has already been cleared ahead of anticipated severe weather, with volunteers expected to remove the remaining debris this weekend. Damage is largely concentrated in two main areas, with the most severe impact reported along Sunbury Drive.
The tornado injured seven people and damaged 44 structures. Nearly half of the homes assessed were classified as "moderate, major or destroyed," according to city leaders.
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McLaughlin credited the rapid response from emergency crews and first responders with helping to limit further damage.
"Without the initial response that we had, it could have obviously been a lot worse," McLaughlin said. "But we're grateful for the community outpour and just making sure that everything was coordinated as best as possible."
The emergency declaration enables access to additional funding to support recovery efforts. Leaders say the Streator Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, administered through the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, has raised more than $9,000 so far.
A multi-agency resource center is scheduled to open Thursday at Northlawn Junior High School. Several state agencies, including the Secretary of State's office, will be on hand to assist residents affected by the storm. The center will be open from 1 to 8 p.m.