Torando slams Western Illinois community

Posted on July 17, 2015

*A tornado destroyed homes in Cameron, Illinois. (WJBC file photo)*

By Tyler Bachman/IRN

CAMERON – After Thursday’s tornado ripped through Cameron, emergency personnel and various agencies are working to clean up the debris and restore services.
Illinois State Police Trooper Jason Wilson says there were 15 homes that were damaged beyond repair. Wilson said in a press conference held in Cameron Friday that crews and emergency responders working to restore the town — they’re keeping residents out for their own safety.

“The biggest message that we could possibly give them is that we are working,” says Wilson. “We are trying to establish things and get them back to a certain level of normal. We understand that they have lost a great deal, and we really want to make sure they understand that if they have been denied access to the town, it’s not because we are trying to keep them out just to keep them out.”

Senior Director of Division Operations Craig Gilson says they are working to restore gas at 8 p.m. and power at midnight.

The Salvation Army has set up shelter at the Monmouth Armory and is accepting goods donations at their Kellogg street office in Galesburg. The Western Illinois Animal Rescue has opened a local shelter for animals.

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