Official tornado count: 14 twisters hit during devastating Midwest storm

Because damage assessments are still under way, volunteers are not being solicited at this time.

“We have a lot of people who have volunteered locally, but we just don’t have that many volunteer positions right now. That’s going to change,” said Red Cross spokeswoman Erin Miller.

Food banks are set up in Washington and nearby towns, and a local bank is establishing a special fund for donations that will be dispersed to displaced families.

After the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) establishes the number and condition of homes damaged, the state will request aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Tazewell is one of 13 counties to be declared state disaster areas. 

 “Yesterday I saw first-hand the devastation caused by these deadly storms, said Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D), who toured some of the damaged areas, in a statement released Tuesday. “While the recovery will be long and hard, we will work in the coming days, weeks and months to assist these communities and help the people who live there rebuild their lives.” 

According to the Peoria Journal Star, IEMA Director Jonathan Monken said President Obama phoned him Monday and said “that he’s put everything in place that he can, federally.” 

“He asked how I was holding up. I said, ‘This was not something I signed up for.’ The president replied, ‘That’s how you find out who the leaders are,’ ” Mr. Monken said.

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