Like so many storm chasers I look forward to the chase days, the wording of "A few strong tornadoes possible" this is what I love to do, this is my passion. Also like so many others I knew a time would come when I would see things that I didn't want to see.
The morning of April 9th was no different than any other chase other than the fact that our target was within 50 miles from home, virtually in our back yard. As a chaser you are excited, as a resident of the area you have a few extra nerves going.
When we left Janesville that early afternoon we knew there was a chance of seeing a tornado or 2, never did I imagine we were a few hours away from seeing the most violent tornado of 2015 in the U.S. The conditions were coming together very nicely! As the day progressed I began to wonder if we would see any good storms as they kept dying from being choked off all instability. As it would happen a storm would form about an hour before daylight would fade into the early Spring air and darkness would set upon us. Driving through large hail shortly after was the highlight of my day at the moment, the sound of baseball sized chunks of ice thumping against the roof of the car was music to my ears.
When the tornado warning was broadcast with the words "large and dangerous & particularly dangerous situation" your heart skips a few beats. I remember the sight of this monster and watching it spin and rip trees and earth up and being excited about this.
Soon we would drive through a few small communities, always wondering if it was in the path of this monster and was our chase over to start search and rescue. Fortunately none of the small towns were touched to that point.
We had pulled over to watch the tornado, still large, fade into the darkness. An eery roar was all you could hear, followed by sirens from emergency crews responding to anyone that did need aid.
While stopped along the road all I could smell was this distinct smell of earth, like you had just been working in your garden all day.
As we sat and watched the tornado disappear, residents had begun emerging from their homes and driving around the area checking on friends and loved ones. As we sat there trying to come down from the high of what we had just seen, a couple teenagers pulled up in a truck very excited as the tornado had come within a 1/4 mile of their home. As we talked a little one of them looked at the lot about 200 yards across the field and said "Hey that was so and so house" Looking over my heart immediately sunk deep into my stomach, what was once a house was simply reduced to a concrete slab. I remember calling my dad and being able to emotionally muster up the phrase "If anyone was in that house they are dead" Fortunately we later learned they were not home at the time.
The short drive home was quiet for the most part as we learned of severe damage and at least 1 death in Fairdale. The next morning I returned to the area for a few interviews and was just in awe of the damage. Less than 24 hours before this was a quiet little bedroom community that was now literally wiped off the map. While I was there a press conference was being conducted to announce a second confirmed fatality, something I always dreaded hearing or seeing.
When I left that afternoon I felt sick, how could something I love so much hurt so many people and me be ok with it? I took the long way home that afternoon and realized just how important life really is and how quick it can change.
In the weeks following I made a few return trips to volunteer and had the opportunity to meet people affected and hear their stores of that evening, more importantly I was treated like I belonged there, they welcomed me with open arms and offered me pie and coffee and donuts, etc. Some even found ways to joke about how they got closer than I was or how they got better video.
I knew storm chasing that I would eventually see some pretty big damage, never did I think I would see something so violent do so much horrific damage and never did I think I would be so mentally unprepared when the time came.
To the people of northern Illinois, first responders, meteorologists, volunteers....You are all amazing people and did one amazing job that night!
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