A year ago today a tornado that was a half-mile wide with 190-mile-an-hour winds started in East Peoria and cut a mean path through Washington. Another tornado was on the ground in Pekin.
About two-dozen tornadoes touched down in state last November 17th. But the trio of communities impacted in Tazewell County had more than 14-hundred homes injured or destroyed. One person died in Washington, others were seriously injured and two more people later succumbed to the injuries they sustained that day. People who lived through the destruction largely agree they will never forget the experience. Peoria Public Radio’s Denise Molina spoke with some of them at various stages in the recovery process and produced this first person account:
So far about 30-percent of homes that were totally destroyed have been rebuilt and their families have moved-in in Washington. But there are work permits out on about 75-percent of the properties that were damaged or destroyed.
Listen to longer conversations with those impacted by the storms:
Here's Doreen Shipman whose home in Washington was damaged in the November 17th tornado.
Kim Wright's Washington home was in the direct path of the tornado. She was home at the time of the storm.
Fran Tubbs also lost her home on the November 17th tornado. She was not home the day of the event.
Dena and Brian Day were at their Washington home when the tornado hit. There house sustained severe damage.