Press Releases and Community Messages

Dec. 14, 2021 Press Release:

On the six-month anniversary of the June 20 EF-3 tornado that touched down in Naperville and surrounding suburbs, impacted Naperville families are invited to attend an open house to help the community identify what unmet needs exist as long-term recovery continues.

The open house will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20 at the Ranch View Elementary School gym, 1651 Ranchview Drive, and is sponsored by the Naperville Long-Term Recovery Group, made up of Ranch View Area Community Assistance, the City of Naperville, Loaves & Fishes Community Services and other volunteers. This group was brought together to determine what long-term recovery needs may look like and funding or resources required to meet those needs.

“What our community went through on the night of June 20 was horrible; however, I am encouraged by so many volunteers coming together to better understand how families who were impacted may still be struggling,” Mayor Steve Chirico said. “I encourage anyone directly impacted by the storm to attend the open house or fill out the needs assessment survey online.”

At the open house, households that were directly impacted by the tornado can fill out a needs assessment survey to help the group understand what post-storm needs still exist and what funding may be required to meet those needs. Volunteers will be on hand to help residents fill out the assessment; residents do not need to bring any storm-related paperwork or proof of residency with them. Impacted residents who cannot attend in-person on Dec. 20 are invited to fill out the survey online at https://www.naperville.il.us/june-20-tornado-updates/ by Jan. 12, 2022.

“Recovery doesn’t end when the last City vehicle pulls out of a neighborhood in the immediate weeks after a storm,” Deputy City Manager Marcie Schatz said. “The Naperville Long-Term Recovery Group is committed to working together to help those who may still need assistance. Now, to best move forward, our first step is to know directly from those impacted what they still need and how the community can best support them.”

For questions about the open house, please contact City of Naperville Communications Director Linda LaCloche at (630) 420-6034.

June 25, 2021 Update:

City crews and contractors will continue clean-up efforts in the area impacted by Sunday’s tornado through tomorrow, June 26, and into next week with the start of special brush and house/property debris collections for select areas.

House/Property Debris Collection

House/property debris collection for select addresses will take place during the week of June 28 on those addresses’ regular garbage collection day. To see if your home is included in this special collection, please visit the interactive map located on the City’s website. For those included, home/property debris should be placed at the curb, and items should be separated from tree debris. Residents not included in the special home/property debris collection should follow the City’s standard garbage collection guidelines.

Scam Awareness and Permitted Solicitors

As long-term recovery efforts begin, residents who suffered property damage should beware of scams and individuals looking to take advantage of this disaster. Residents should contact their insurance company directly and be cautious about giving information or business to companies that call or stop by their property unsolicited.

Various solicitors representing certain companies have been issued permits to solicit services in the impacted area. Non-profit peddlers/solicitors do not require a permit. A list of companies with permitted solicitors is available on the City’s website. Solicitors who are permitted will have a badge with the City's logo, their photo, and expiration date. Residents should ask to see that badge to ensure they are dealing with a permitted solicitor.

Resource Center for Impacted Residents – June 26 and 27

A multi-agency resource center for those residents directly impacted by Sunday’s tornado will be open on Saturday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at Thomas Jefferson Junior High School, 7200 Janes Ave., Woodridge. Along with more than 20 other agencies, representatives from the City of Naperville will be on site to provide information about the building permitting process and debris collection.

Residents are encouraged to share information about this resource center with anyone who was impacted by Sunday’s tornado.

Special Brush Collection

A special brush collection to assist residents with clean up from Sunday’s storm has been scheduled for June 28 through July 3. An interactive map on the City’s website allows residents to enter their address to see if they are included in the special collection boundaries. Residents within the special collection area should have brush/tree debris out on the parkway by 6 a.m. on Monday, June 28. Brush does not need to be cut to specific sizes or bundled for this special collection. In addition, yard waste bags in the collection area will not need yard waste stickers during the week of June 28. Residents not included in the special brush collection area should follow the City’s standard yard waste guidelines.

This will be the final daily update related to the City’s response to Sunday’s tornado. Additional updates will be issued as necessary.

June 24, 2021 Update:

City crews are continuing clean-up and support efforts today in the area impacted by Sunday’s tornado, including parkway tree removal. This level of activity should be expected through the weekend. With heavy rain and thunderstorms expected through Saturday, please note that crews may have to temporarily cease operations during periods of lightning or severe weather; however, clean-up efforts will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.

Resource Center for Impacted Residents – June 26 and 27
The Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) of northeast Illinois, which includes the American Red Cross, has coordinated a multi-agency resource center for those area residents directly impacted by Sunday’s tornado. This is a single location where public and private disaster relief agencies at the local, regional and national level come together to provide relevant resources and assistance to those in need of help.

The resource center will be open on Saturday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at Thomas Jefferson Junior High School, 7200 Janes Ave., Woodridge. Representatives from the City of Naperville will be on site to provide information about the building permitting process and debris collection.

Residents are encouraged to share information about this resource center with anyone who was impacted by Sunday’s tornado.

Debris Collection (Tree and House/Property) Update
Impacted residents are asked to continue to keep tree debris separate from house and other property debris to help clean-up efforts move as efficiently as possible.

As a reminder, a special brush collection to assist residents with clean up from Sunday’s storm has been scheduled for June 28 through July 3. An interactive map on the City’s website allows residents to enter their address to see if they are included in the special collection boundaries. Residents within the special collection area should have brush/tree debris out on the parkway by 6 a.m. on Monday, June 28. Brush does not need to be cut to specific sizes or bundled for this special collection. In addition, yard waste bags in the collection area will not need yard waste stickers during the week of June 28. Residents not included in the special brush collection area should follow the City’s standard yard waste guidelines.

June 23, 2021 Update:

City crews remain on site today conducting clean-up efforts in the area impacted by Sunday’s tornado. Crews will once again be on site until approximately 8 p.m. to clear parkway trees, roadways, and City property, and Fire officials will continue their presence in the area as a resource for impacted residents. This level of activity should be expected through the weekend.

Damage Assessment Update
Damage assessments conducted by the City’s Transportation, Engineering, and Development (TED) Business Group inspectors in the hardest-hit area have concluded. A total of 231 structures sustained some level of damage in Sunday’s storm, with one home destroyed, 19 declared uninhabitable, 143 suffering major damage and 68 sustaining minor damage. Major damage is classified as those homes that experienced damage that will require a building permit from the City for repair. Minor damage is classified as damage that will generally not require a permit during the repair process.

Special Brush Collection
As a reminder, a special brush collection to assist residents with clean up from Sunday’s storm has been scheduled for June 28 through July 3. Generally, the special collection area includes homes south of 75th Street between Plainfield-Naperville Road and Yackley Avenue with collection occurring in some neighborhoods as far south as Royce Road.

An interactive map on the City’s website allows residents to enter their address to see if they are included in the special collection boundaries. Residents within the special collection area should have brush/tree debris out on the parkway by 6 a.m. on Monday, June 28. Brush does not need to be cut to specific sizes or bundled for this special collection. Residents not included in the special brush collection area should follow the City’s standard yard waste guidelines.

As they clean up their properties, residents are asked to keep tree debris separate from house and other property debris, as this aids with the removal and disposal process.

Road Closure Update
To facilitate efficient removal of tree debris from the impacted area, Ranchview Drive will close to through traffic during daytime hours for the remainder of the week and from approximately 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, June 26. Naperville electric crews have completed their work on Bailey Road at this time and have reopened the roadway, and Wehrli Road will reopen between 77th Street and Muirhead Avenue this afternoon. However, other utilities continue to work in the area, which could require rolling lane closures on these and other area roadways at various times. Motorists are encouraged to use caution while driving through the hardest-hit area from Sunday’s storm for the foreseeable future, and those who do not live in and around the area should avoid traveling through it. As the City is made aware of these closures, they will be posted to Waze.

Community Support Efforts
As the focus moves to long-term recovery, the City is compiling community-led support efforts on its website as it is made aware of them. Those needing assistance are encouraged to visit this resource page, and those wishing to assist should continue to check the website often for the most up-to-date information.

June 22, 2021 Update:

Clean up and inspection efforts continue in the area impacted by Sunday’s tornado. City crews will remain on site until approximately 8 p.m. today and again in the coming days to clear parkway trees, roadways and City property. Fire officials will also be in the area until 8 p.m. to assist residents. For the safety of crews and residents working at their properties, members of the public should continue to avoid the area.

As they clean up their properties, residents are asked to keep tree debris separate from house and other property debris, as this aids with the removal and disposal process.

A special brush collection to assist residents with clean up from Sunday’s storm has been scheduled for June 28 through July 3. Generally, the special collection area includes homes south of 75th Street between Plainfield-Naperville Road and Yackley Avenue with collection occurring in some neighborhoods as far south as Royce Road.

Plans are being finalized to conduct a special garbage pick-up in the hardest-hit area in the near future. Additional details about this collection will be released as they become available.

At its peak, 770 electric customers were without power following Sunday night’s storm. Naperville’s electric crews were able to restore power to all customers by 6 p.m. on Monday, June 21. Electric personnel will continue to be active in the area for several weeks making long-term fixes to infrastructure. Ongoing work may require intermittent outages.

Bailey Road remains closed between Washington Street and Naper Boulevard due to the removal of downed Naperville electric power lines and communication providers working on their equipment. Wehrli Road remains closed between 77th Street and Muirhead Avenue due to downed ComEd electrical lines. An estimate of reopening these roads is not available at this time.

Due to the tremendous outpouring of support from the community, the City of Naperville is no longer taking names of individuals wanting to participate in volunteer clean-up and relief opportunities. Contact information that was previously collected by staff has been provided to the Red Cross. Residents wishing to help local efforts are asked to make monetary donations through the Red Cross website or food donations to local food pantries. Additional information is available on the City’s website. As the City becomes aware of community-led efforts to assist tornado victims in the coming weeks and months, this information will be made available on the City’s website as well.

Update at 5 p.m. on June 21:

City response efforts in the area hit by last night’s confirmed tornado will continue into the night and for the foreseeable future.

Residents in the immediate area can expect brief, rolling electrical outages as electric crews work to restore service to the 300 customers who remain without power. Please avoid downed power lines to ensure your safety and that of City staff members working to restore service.

City crews will continue to address damage to parkway trees and City property, with the removal of tree debris expected to take two more days. Residents should use the Parkway Tree Service Request Form at www.naperville.il.us/storm-damage to report damage to parkway trees. Tree limbs and debris from trees located on residential property should be placed at the curb. Plans are being finalized to conduct a special brush pick up in the hardest-hit area in the near future. Additional details will be released as they become available.

Information about disposal of trash and other debris will be shared in a future update.

City inspectors will continue conduct damage assessments in the coming days. One home was destroyed by the tornado, and 19 homes have been deemed uninhabitable by the City’s Transportation, Engineering and Development Business Group.

Of the eight people taken to Edward Hospital last night, six have been treated and released. The patient originally listed in critical condition has been upgraded to fair condition, and the second person remaining in the hospital is said to be in good condition. No injuries to City staff have been reported.

Bailey Road remains closed between Washington and Naper Boulevard. Additional road closures are being updated on Waze at www.waze.com/live-map.

Volunteering and Donations

Residents wishing to volunteer in the relief/clean-up efforts are asked to contact the Community Services Department at (630) 305-5300 or email portnerd@naperville.il.us to be placed on a list that will be provided to the Red Cross.

Monetary donations can be made online to the Red Cross at www.redcross.org/local/illinois/ways-to-donate.html, and information about making food donations to local food pantries is available on the City’s website at www.naperville.il.us/june-20-tornado-updates.

Scam Awareness

Residents who suffered property damage are encouraged to beware of scams and individuals looking to take advantage of this disaster. Currently, no companies are permitted by the city to be in the impacted area soliciting home improvement, clean up or other services. Residents should contact their insurance company directly and be cautious about giving information or business to companies that call or stop by their property unsolicited.

The City will release another update on Tuesday, June 22.

Update at 10:30 a.m. on June 21:

City crews continue to assess damages from last night’s reported tornado in the area south of 75th and Ranchview and are currently focused on restoring power and removing trees, limbs and other debris from roadways.

Bailey Road remains closed between Washington and Naper Boulevard. Additional road closures are being updated on Waze: www.waze.com/live-map.

Naperville crews restored power for 150 households earlier this morning. As of 10 a.m., approximately 300 customers in the area of Washington Street to the west, Naper Boulevard to the east, Bernie Court to the north and River Ridge Court to the south remain without power.

VOLUNTEERING AND DONATIONS

Residents should continue to avoid the storm-damaged area at this time. Those who would like to assist with any future opportunities for volunteer clean-up efforts are asked to call the Community Services Department at (630) 305-5340 or (630) 305-5300 to leave their contact information.

City officials are currently working with the Red Cross to determine what donation and/or volunteer assistance is needed. Additional details will be made available once plans have been finalized.

In the meantime, monetary donations can be made to the Red Cross at www.redcross.org/local/illinois/ways-to-donate.html. Donations of bottled water will be accepted in the front lobby of the Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

The City will release another update this afternoon.

Update at 5:45 a.m. on June 21:

On Sunday, June 20 at approximately 11:10 p.m., reports of a tornado touchdown in the area just south of 75th Street and Ranchview Drive came into the City’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) center. Tornado sirens were activated at 11:07 p.m. Fire and Police personnel were dispatched to the area at 11:28 p.m. Five people were transported to Edward Hospital; one is listed in critical condition while the other four sustained non-critical injuries.

The area sustained damage to houses and has downed power lines and fallen trees. View a Waze map of current road closures and conditions. Sixteen houses have been deemed uninhabitable by the City’s Transportation, Engineering and Development (TED) Business Group. TED inspectors will continue to inspect property damage this morning. As of 5 a.m., the City has received 125 reports of property damage within the tornado area. Ten people from three homes were taken to a relocation point, and the Red Cross and Salvation Army are assisting the displaced families.

Electric and Public Works staff were also dispatched to the area once allowed to do so by Police and Fire personnel. Nicor was immediately brought into the area to shut off gas to the effected homes; at approximately 2:05 a.m. they reported there were no active gas leaks.

Multiple utility poles on Bailey Road were downed during the storm. Currently approximately 450 customers are without power in the area of Bailey Road to the north, Washington to the west, Naper Boulevard to the east and Bourbon Lane to the south. The poles and the lines will need to be replaced before power can be restored to area. The Electric Utility currently estimates restoration to occur by midnight.

Bailey Road is currently closed between Washington and Naper Blvd., and 77th Street is closed at Muirhead and Wehrli. Please avoid this area. Public Works crews have been working to clear trees from roadways and estimate over 100 parkway trees were damaged. Ranchview Drive is clear and open. City crews, including Police and Fire personnel, will continue to be in this neighborhood throughout the day.

The City will release another update this afternoon.