Fairdale residents continue rebuilding 6 months after tornado

FAIRDALE, Ill. (WLS) -- For residents of Fairdale, it's a story of rebuilding and resilience exactly six months after a tornado hit the small town.

The EF-4 tornado leveled dozens of homes and killed two women.

It was a monster of a tornado, a dark, twisting machine of destruction that touched down in northern Illinois on April 9.

In its path were 21 homes ripped apart at their seams.

Geri Hopper suffered a fractured orbital bone. But she, her husband and mother made it out of their basement alive.

Hopper has a new home, but more loss. Five months after the twister, her mother passed away from lung cancer. Hopper's purple hair is a sign of support.

"We're glad to have the house back yet, but it's bittersweet, Mom is not here," she said.

In the surrounding blocks there are sounds of construction as more homes go up.

Others have decided to raze their property and sell the land.

And despite this progress, there are still mangled rooftops, and splintered trees - evidence of the tornado's path.

"Honestly it feels like it could have been yesterday," Hopper said.

Fundraising efforts have brought in $1.5 million as Fairdale received no state or federal aid after the tornado.

Residents held a vigil Friday night to mark the anniversary.

PHOTOS: Tornado damage, the day after