Mutual Aid Case Studies
Washington, Illinois Tornado
In 2013, IPWMAN helped Washington Illinois
when an EF-4 (Enhanced Fujita Scale) tornado
with 168 – to 199-mph (270 – to 320-kph) winds
leveled homes and threw cars on November
17. This was the infamous day of the 70 torna-
dos across the Midwest and South, creating
a cat's claw appearance across the nation's
landscape. The tornado spent an hour on
the ground and covered 46 miles (74 km).
IPWMAN members were first responders, help-
ing the public works department by providing
an estimated $20,000 USD ($26,286 CAD) in
services to remove debris. Since this was not a
federally declared event, the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency (IEMA) was the lead state
agency in response mode. Other local agencies
that were not IPWMAN members also pro-
vided additional assistance. Through neighborly
outreach, Washington was able to meet and
exceed their local match required by IEMA.
In the subsequent recovery mode, IDNR pro-
vided technical assistance in helping Washington
rebuild their urban forest. The City brought
in the Urban Forest Strike Team to conduct a
mock training through the federal Urban and
Community Forestry Strike Team Initiative.
The exercise helped to identify residual risk
issues associated with trees left two years
after the tornado. IDNR, Trees Forever, and
the University of Illinois Extension Master
Gardeners partnered to inventory the trees
that remained. Trees Forever led the way in
reforestation efforts in partnership with >>
Downed tree after February 2017
tornado hit Naplate, Illinois.
www.urban-forestry.com 21
