April 14--Tom Bell stood on the front deck of what used to be his home in DeKalb County on Monday morning and looked out over a pile of rubble that stretched two miles to the northeast.
For the second time in recent years, Bell has to rebuild the home he's lived in since 1982, he said.
"I just put this house up five years ago because I had a house fire that took down the old house," said Bell, 55. "I just finished the bathroom last week."
But later in the week a devastating tornado ripped through north central Illinois and destroyed the house once again. It was the same tornado that devastated the small town of Fairdale, about three miles away. Bell, who raises livestock on the property, also lost about a dozen cattle and his barn.
"The worst part of this is there is no insurance," Bell said of his situation.
Because of the fire, the rate would have been $40,000 for five years, he said, so he took a risk.
"If (the house) had made it till August, I'd have been fine" because the rate would have been more affordable, he said.
"I'm lost. I don't know where to begin."
As Bell was assessing the damage at his home, officials were coordinating cleanup efforts of volunteers throughout the Fairdale area, where two people died and several others were injured.
Authorities in DeKalb County said donations of food, clothing and other necessities have been pouring in from nearby communities and from out of state at such a volume that they have requested those who want to help do so in other ways.
"If people want to donate, we ask that donations be money, cash, gift cards," said Kirkland Community Fire District Chief Chad Connell.
Authorities urged residents to be cautious and alert them to potential scams.
Police continued to allow only limited access to the ravaged areas and, to protect homeowners, they are requiring contractors to register with the Illinois attorney general's office before seeking work in Fairdale or Rochelle.
Authorities have not reported a problem with looting or scavenging.
The tornado that hit Fairdale was the strongest one of eight in Illinois on Thursday. It was classified as an EF-4 by the National Weather Service, with winds up to 200 mph.
It tracked from near Franklin Grove in Lee County to north of Rochelle in Ogle County, through Fairdale and into Boone County, the weather service said.
Bell said he was on his deck as the tornado approached. He said he could see it coming across a field after it hit Fairdale and it was beginning to lift and return to the clouds.
"It kept going up and up, but when it got to the road, it dropped," he said.
That road, about 150 feet from his front door, meant that he had little time to seek shelter.
He said the tornado ripped the roof and back wall of his home and pushed in the front wall, near where he was standing. It knocked him into the basement.
"With that, it was gone," he said. "It took a second; the amount of time it took to fall and get back up it was gone."
Bell said his mother lives in a cottage on the property that also was destroyed, but she was out of town at the time.
"I know everyone said, 'We'll you are alive,' but I lost a lot in the fire and I lost a lot more in the tornado," he said
But Bell says he plans to rebuild. "I bought this place right out of high school. I've been here since 1982. Raised my kids here. Got married here. My father died at this place. And I'll die at this place."
Bell said he is getting assistance from co-workers at a furniture company in suburban Wood Dale, where he also works.
About a year and a half ago, Bell was pitching in to help people in a similar situation that he is in now, he said. He brought his bulldozer down to Washington, Ill., after that community was hit with tornado damage.
In Kirkland, Fire Chief Connell said he was amazed at the amount of help people from nearby and out of state.
"I'm a resident of Kirkland for only 17 years," said Connell, who grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. "Now I know why I live in a community like this. It's overwhelming."
While Connell was briefing media on the ongoing cleanup efforts, an army of volunteers was unpacking goods at the Kirkland fire station. There are so many items that officials need to move them out of the fire station and into a nearby bus barn so normal duties can resume at the station.
Officials from the Red Cross also were meeting with residents to help provide care.
Officials were directing those who wanted to volunteer to a location in Kirkland where AmeriCorps St. Louis was coordinating volunteer efforts. Jenny Pilecki, a coordinator for the organization, said in recent days 800 people had come to volunteer, including 100 Monday morning.
DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott grew emotional when telling of an offer of help he received Monday.
"Sheriff (Brian) VanVickle from Ogle County called me while we were walking and working today," Scott said. "(He) happened to lose his home (in the tornado) ... plus all the things that are going on in Rochelle.
"And he had an opportunity as things were getting closer together there (in Ogle County) to offer us his help," said Scott, struggling to control his emotions. "It's hard for me to talk about it.
"I didn't expect a call from him today. It's a great expression of support and brotherhood."
Tribune reporter Christy Gutowski contributed.
mwalberg@tribpub.com
