While acknowledging the generosity of those who want to help victims of Thursday’s tornadoes in northern Illinois, an official with the Will County Emergency Management Agency is urging anyone spearheading local efforts to follow official guidelines.
They can start by visiting the website http://www.illinois.gov/ready for accurate information, said Brenda Lutz, deputy director for preparedness for the Will County Emergency Management Agency. A red bar near the top of the web page labeled “State incident response center activated for tornadoes” is a link to more detailed information.
Notably, officials overseeing efforts in Rochelle and Fairdale are not accepting any more food or clothing. Volunteers and money are needed instead.
“Before you do anything, please visit this website for the correct information on behalf of those two communities,” Lutz said.
Lutz is a Southland representative for numerous government and nonprofit groups organized for relief efforts, called Illinois VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster). She participates in the group conference calls, which disseminate information from the affected areas.
VOAD, initiated through the State Incident Response Center in Springfield, includes local governmental bodies, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Operation Blessing, which is handling relief efforts in Ogle County.
“Both communities have been so overwhelmed, they simply cannot accept any more (clothing, food or material donations),” Lutz said. “There is no room to house the supplies.”
The website gives detailed, up-to-date information about how, where and when to help. For example, in Ogle County, volunteers were being asked to check in at the Operation Blessing Mobile Command Center at the corner of Jones Road and 9th Street in Rochelle at 9 a.m. for the rest of the week, according to the website.
The website is kept current so that volunteers know where to meet at what time. In both Ogle and DeKalb counties, volunteers are asked to wear long pants, sturdy shoes, safety glasses and gloves.
The website said donations of gift cards could be delivered to the Rochelle Fire Department at 401 S. 5th Ave., while monetary donations could be made through the Rochelle Area Community Foundation at http://www.rochellefoundation.org or via postal mail at P.O., Box 74, Rochelle, IL 61068.
To help in DeKalb County, where Fairdale and Kirkland are located, volunteers were being asked to download, print and bring a volunteer form that is available on the website. There is also a link to an official GoFundMe account established at Alpine Bank in Kirkland. Alpine Bank is absorbing the administrative costs associated with the fund so that all proceeds collected can go to the families, according to http://www.illinois.gov/ready.
The information on the website has been vetted by the communities affected, Lutz said. Many social media sites soliciting help or donations also have popped up; however, there is no guarantee those sites actually represent the victims, Lutz said.
Among the genuine requests is a need for volunteers to clean debris out of farm fields so farmers can get ready for planting, she said.
The Daily Chronicle reported that people had dropped off truckloads of items at businesses and government offices. At Sycamore High School, students collected more than $3,100 in gift cards and more than 2,000 nonperishable food items. And a campaign started by the village of Kirkland had collected more than $40,000.
“There are so many wonderfully generous people out there,” Lutz said.
The tornado killed two Fairdale residents, injured more than 20 people and destroyed or damaged dozens of buildings.
Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Contributing: AP
