Lemont Rallies to Help Tornado Victims in Southern Illinois

Lemont residents are pitching in to help victims of a tornado that devastated the southern Illinois town of Harrisburg last week. 

The category F4 tornado killed six and injured more than 100 people Feb. 29, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Emergency management crews from across the state were immediately dispatched to Harrisburg to help clean up after the storm, which spanned 200 yards and carried winds up to 170 mph.

Lemont Emergency Management Director Tom Ballard traveled downstate Wednesday night and didn't return until Sunday.

"It was unbelievable to see the damage down there," he told Patch. "You'd pass one house that got hit really hard, and another that was perfectly fine. It's difficult to be prepared for a storm like that."

On Wednesday, —located at 102 Stephen St. in downtown Lemont—announced it would be collecting several household items to send down to Harrisburg.

Pastor Dave Richa said the church is concentrating on toilet paper, paper towels and laundry soap. Donations may be dropped off at the church during the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday (between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.), or before or after morning services Sunday (9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.).

Donations will also be accepted at the Lemont Township Community Center, 16300 Alba St., through March 15.

For more information, visit www.communitychristian.org/lemont.