1 found dead in Aroma Park following destructive EF-3 tornado in Kankakee County

A person was found dead Thursday afternoon in a home in Aroma Park as cleanup and repairs continued after an EF-3 ripped through Kankakee County on Tuesday, leaving major damage.

The Kankakee County Sheriff's office said, around 4:25 p.m., deputies were notified about a possible tornado victim found inside a damaged home in Aroma Park. Kankakee County Coroner Bob Gessner later confirmed the death.

Officials have not yet notified the victim's family, and have not released any information on the person's age or gender.

Tuesday's severe storms spread across multiple counties in northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. It was a powerful EF-3 tornado, with peak winds of 150 miles per hour, which tore through Kankakee County, leaving portions of Aroma Park decimated. 

The tornado damaged 500 buildings around Kankakee County, with 30 homes completely destroyed.

On Wednesday, Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey said the county declared a state of emergency due to the severity of the storm damage. 

Video from CBS News Skywatch shows the path of destruction with homes flattened, trees uprooted and shredded, and debris scattered across entire neighborhoods that were wiped out in a matter of seconds.

Gov. JB Pritzker visited Aroma Park, just south of Kankakee, on Thursday, as residents like Bill Davison asked for help from political leaders at all levels, urging them not to make a political football out of the situation.

"We're a Republican community for the most part, and this is where the rubber meets the road, you know, when it comes to the federal government and the people who support this idea of dividing the nation between red and blue. You cannot. It's not reasonable for fair people to think that you can have a tragedy like this and pick and choose," Davidson said, choking back tears. "That's just not right."

Pritzker said he' s optimistic about receiving federal disaster assistance for the victims of the tornado, even though political friction between the governor and the Trump administration has gotten in the way of disaster relief funding for Illinois in the past.

"I think my confidence comes from the idea that politics shouldn't play a role. I don't think that it will play a role," Pritzker said. "You can see that this community needs help, and so that is not always the case with the submissions … in emergencies and crises"

Last year, FEMA rejected Pritzker's request for federal disaster assistance for victims of damaging summer storms in the Chicago area, and the governor has said he believes President Trump was punishing Illinois and other Democratic-led states where FEMA also rejected disaster relief requests.

Meantime, ComEd said 99% of homes that lost power in the storms have had service restored as of Thursday afternoon.

Kankakee School District 111 remains closed, meals available 

While Kankakee School District 111 remains closed for another day on Thursday, the school community is stepping in to provide meals and donated essentials to community members in need.

The district will be providing three meals at the Lincoln Cultural Center on Thursday and Friday. The school community is accepting donations of essential items, including water, non-perishable food, and hygiene items. 

Kankakee School District 111 Superintendent Teresa Lance said the district is an extension of the community. 

"When one is hurt, we all hurt," Lance said. "I think it's our responsibility to coalesce together as a group, family members, friends and colleagues to give back to the community." 

Donation drop-off and pick-up will also be available to community members.