After the Storm, They Were Not Alone

Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of the Kankakee County Tornado

HELP LCC BE THERE - Tornado Recovery Fund

A Storm That Changed Everything

On the evening of March 10, a powerful EF-3 tornado with winds reaching 150 mph tore through Kankakee County, Illinois, and into Indiana—leaving behind a trail of devastation that spanned nearly 37 miles and stretched half a mile wide.

Communities including Kankakee, Aroma Park, and St. Anne were hit hard. Homes were flattened. Trees were uprooted. Entire neighborhoods were left unrecognizable. Three lives were lost, and many more were injured.

For countless families, everything changed in a matter of minutes.

Homes, vehicles, businesses, and treasured belongings were gone. In their place stood debris, uncertainty, and the overwhelming question of where to begin.

A Rapid Response Rooted in Compassion

The call for help came quickly.

At the invitation of Pastor Roger Drinnon of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kankakee, IL,  Lutheran Church Charities mobilized both its Disaster Response and K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.

By the very next morning, LCC Director of Disaster Response Deaconess Kathy O’Day and Southwest Suburban Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) leader Mark Razny were on the ground, meeting with the pastor, contacting affected congregation and school families, surveying accessible damage, and coordinating with the Emergency Operations Center to offer support. 

Within 48 hours, LERT volunteers were already serving.

Operating out of St. Paul’s, they stepped into devastated neighborhoods, ready to do whatever was needed.

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The Work Begins: Clearing Debris, Carrying Burdens

By Thursday, March 12, chainsaws roared to life and teams got to work.

LERT volunteers began helping families salvage what they could from uninhabitable homes—sorting through debris, packing belongings, cutting downed trees, and clearing yards.

But the work quickly became about much more than cleanup.

It became about people.

Throughout the week, teams listened to story after story, accounts of the terrifying sounds of the storm, the chaos of the aftermath, and the emotional toll that lingered long after the skies cleared.

Families were overwhelmed. Exhausted. Trying to navigate insurance, loss, and uncertainty all at once.

And in the middle of it all, LERT volunteers stayed.

They listened.
They prayed.
They offered hugs.
They showed up—again and again.

“I Felt Lost… But You Gave Me Hope”

In one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Aroma Park, volunteers spent three days working alongside a family connected to St. Paul.

Their home—and their vehicles—had been completely destroyed, just like so many others in the neighborhood.

Over those three days, the team helped salvage, pack, and move what belongings remained. They cleared debris scattered across the yard and used chainsaws to remove multiple downed trees.

But what stayed with the team most wasn’t the work—it was the words of the homeowner.

She shared that she felt “so sad, lost, and disoriented” after losing her family home and treasured items passed down from her parents.

And yet, in the middle of that grief, she clung to her faith—and saw something meaningful in the presence of the volunteers.

She believed they were sent to bring her hope, help, and care exactly when she needed it most

Not Alone in the Aftermath
At another home, a congregation member stood alongside volunteers and even their pastor as they worked through the wreckage.

Together, they retrieved what belongings they could and carefully loaded them into a rented pod—protecting what remained of a lifetime of memories.

The team then cleared the entire yard, removing debris that had been scattered by the storm.

The impact was immediate.

The homeowner shared how much better they felt—not because everything was fixed, but because they weren’t facing it alone anymore.

They knew the road ahead would be long. But they also knew something else:

They had support.
They had community.
They had people who showed up when it mattered most.

The Power of Presence

For much of the week, LERT volunteers remained in the same hard-hit Aroma Park neighborhood.
That consistency made a difference.

As days passed, neighbors who had initially been strangers became familiar faces. Conversations grew deeper. Trust was built.

“It is amazing how being present for three days in the same neighborhood makes a difference,” one team member reflected.

Not just in the amount of work completed—but in what couldn’t be measured:

Restored hope.
Shared tears.
Moments of connection in the middle of chaos.

Even beyond Aroma Park, teams traveled to other affected areas—helping congregation and school families remove fallen trees and begin the slow process of recovery.

Meeting Needs at Every Level

As the response continued, LERT volunteers also served at the Kankakee County Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC)—a one-stop location where disaster survivors could access support from government agencies, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations.

There, the teams connected residents with chainsaw and debris removal services, helping them take the next step forward.

But just as importantly, they offered something else:

A listening ear.
A prayer.
A reminder that hope still exists—even in the hardest moments.

That same spirit of service extended beyond the immediate tornado zone.

On Thursday, as Northern Illinois experienced powerful wind gusts reaching 45–70 mph, new damage continued to impact families already facing difficult circumstances. When a large tree fell in the yard of a family connected to Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee, LERT volunteers responded immediately.
Jon Bartelt, Carl Fischer, and Steve Wright arrived that same day to cut and remove the tree, working alongside the homeowner and his father to clear the yard. The wood was even hauled to a neighbor’s home for future use.

It was a simple act—but a meaningful one.

In a time when needs continue to emerge, their quick response reminded this family that they were not alone , and that help can arrive right when it’s needed most.

Healing Beyond the Debris: Comfort Dogs in Indiana

While chainsaws and cleanup efforts continue in Illinois this week, another kind of healing is taking place just across the state line in Indiana.

In Lake Village and Roselawn—small communities deeply impacted by the same storm—families were navigating their own devastating losses. Twenty-six homes were destroyed. Dozens more were left unlivable. Over 1,100 power lines were down.

In the midst of cleanup efforts, tragedy struck again when a volunteer lost their life after being hit by debris.

The heaviness in the community was undeniable.

When students finally returned to school, many carried fear, grief, and uncertainty with them.

That’s when the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry stepped in.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Eternity and and Magdalene (Cornerstone - Carmel, Indiana) visited Lake Village Elementary in Lake Village, IN, and LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Caleb (Immanuel - Valparaiso, Indiana), Jael (Trinity - Hobart, Indiana), and Michael (LCC Staff) were present at Lincoln Elementary. 

Moments That Matter

Throughout the day, small moments carried enormous meaning.

Two young girls whose home had been hit smiled as they gently petted the dogs.

A third-grade boy, after spending time with them, declared:
“This is the best day ever!”

One handler described the day in a single word:
“Uplifting—to see so many people smiling in the face of adversity.”

Another chose the word:
“Supportiveness.”

They witnessed teachers delivering food and milk to families, checking in on students, and supporting one another in the days after the storm.

They saw students doing the same—comforting friends, sharing stories, and showing deep care for those who had lost more.

Resilience in Its Purest Form

“I was most impressed with the resilience of the children,” one team member shared. “Despite the recent tragedies, most of the kids seemed happy to be back at school with their friends—and grateful for the comfort dogs.”

Even students who hadn’t experienced damage themselves were deeply aware of others.

“They almost all knew someone who did,” a handler noted. “And they were very concerned for them.”

One young boy, hesitant at first, didn’t want to interact with the dogs. But later, when his class returned, he sat on the floor. A Comfort Dog named Michael gently placed his head on the boy’s knee.

That was all it took.

“He was a happy camper.”

A Quiet Moment of Healing

One of the most powerful moments came from a quiet fifth-grade boy.

At first, he stood at a distance while others gathered around the dogs. He left—but then returned. And then came back again.

Finally, he stepped into the circle of students, sat down, and wrapped his arms around two Comfort Dogs—pulling them close and holding them there.

No words.
No explanations.
Just a moment of healing.

“He stayed with them for a very long time,” the handler shared.

Unity in the Midst of Loss

Another word used to describe the day:
“Unity.”

“The school, the community showed amazing unity,” one handler reflected. “It was refreshing to be a part of people loving on people.”

In classrooms and hallways, students hugged one another, shared laughter, and told stories—small but powerful signs that healing had already begun.

The Work Continues

The road to recovery will be long for these communities.

Homes must be rebuilt. Lives must be pieced back together. Grief must be processed.

But they are not alone.

Lutheran Church Charities’ Disaster Response teams will continue clearing debris and walking alongside families. Comfort Dog teams will continue bringing calm, connection, and moments of peace.

Because long after the storm has passed, the need remains.

And so does the response.

HELP LCC BE THERE - Tornado Recovery Fund