By Vinde Wells

Editor

Ogle County’s emergency crews drew praise from a state official for their response last month when an EF4 tornado destroyed an estimated 40 homes and damaged nearly 180 structures.

“Ogle County first responders are very professional and dedicated to public safety,” said Brian Brackemyer, coordinator for Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Region 2, which includes 17 counties in northwest Illinois.

Region 2 is headquartered in Dixon, and Brackemyer was on the scene April 9 after the tornado swept through two subdivisions west of Rochelle, where most of the destroyed homes were located.

“Everyone was very professional and concerned about the general public,” he said.

The tornado, a half-mile wide at times, stayed on the ground for an estimated 39 miles, according to the National Weather Service.

It first touched down in a field just west of Franklin Grove and moved in a northeasterly direction, damaging Crest Foods outside of Ashton before moving into Ogle County just after 6:30 p.m.

Grubsteakers Restaurant at the intersection of Ill. 64 and 251 and nearby farms and homes were destroyed by the twister as it continued on its path to Fairdale, a tiny village on Ill. 72 just over the DeKalb County line.

Two women died there in their homes, and many of the 50 homes and structures in the village were flattened.

The tornado also damaged structures in Boone and McHenry Counties.

Brackemyer and other Region 2 officials held an evaluation Monday to determine how well the Ogle County Emergency Management Agency (OCEMA) and other agencies handled the rescue and recovery operations after the storm.

Representatives of Ogle County police and fire departments, as well as county officials were invited to the evaluation, held at Rochelle Township High School.

The response was evaluated on 10 points, each of which included several target items. Those attending were encouraged to weigh in with their assessments of what was done well and what needs to be improved.

Each target item was graded P for performance without challenges, the highest rating; S for performance with some challenges; M for performance with major challenges; and U for unable to perform.

Each of the 10 points received an overall grade as well.

OCEMA Director Tom Richter said Tuesday that the highlight of the county’s performance was the cooperation between the numerous agencies involved in the rescue and recovery efforts the evening of the tornado.

“There’s a strong level of trust between the various agencies,” he said.

The county’s efforts scored an S overall, Richter said.

“Overall, the county performed all of its functions with some challenges,” he said. “The director of IEMA James Joseph was happy with our performance, as was Region 2.”

Richter said the frequent emergency drills held because of the Byron Generating Station have brought the various agencies together over the years and enhanced readiness and cooperation for all kinds of emergency situations.

During the evaluation, Sheriff Brian VanVickle said that being on the same radio frequency allowed smooth communication between the Illinois State Police and other police departments on the scene of the tornado.

“The system was used like it should have been,” he said.

Some communication did not go smoothly, however.

Richter said he did not learn about the destruction and people trapped in a storm cellar at Grubsteakers until about a half hour after the tornado struck there.

Rescue workers were on the scene immediately, moving debris away from the storm cellar entrance to free the victims, who suffered only minor injuries.

“We didn’t give support to the people up there as soon as we should have,” Richter said.

A Monroe Center firefighter said his department received little early communication from the emergency command center in Rochelle about what was going on and what resources were available.

His department drove around its district looking for damaged structures and offering assistance to residents, he said, and also helped at nearby Fairdale.