Orland Park officials Monday night heartily praised first responders for their efforts after a tornado touched down in the village on July 27 and left widespread power and internet outages along with downed tree branches and uprooted trees throughout the village.
Officials later issued a proclamation making August National Emergency Management Awareness Month.
“This is spectacular timing,” said Mayor Jim Dodge one week after severe weather wracked the village.
The National Weather Service reported western and northwestern Orland Park was hit by a sudden, violent burst of nature—an EF-0 tornado with wind gusts from 65-85 mph and torrential rain.
Within minutes, the roaring wind tore through mature trees that had stood for half a century, snapping branches like matchsticks and toppling giant trunks across driveways, streets and power lines plunging nearly 9,000 homes into darkness, some of which were without power until Friday.
Across the village, traffic lights were not working, roofs had shingles pulled off and scattered, uprooted trees were leaning on houses, and cars peeked out from beneath branches that fell during the storm.
Police and firefighters quickly responded by conducting welfare checks and clearing routes for emergency workers. Public Works teams worked side-by-side with utility crews clearing branches and tree trunks. ComEd crews were feverishly restoring power. Waste Management trucks swept streets of debris.
The Emergency Management Agency team coordinated efforts as first responders and utility crews worked through the night and the next few days to clean up debris and then shifted gears to set up for the Taste of Orland Park.
Darian Reed, commander of the EMA, said, “I was so proud to see neighbors out there helping neighbors. There were off-duty police and firefighters with chainsaws clearing downed trees.”
“Orland Park is an amazing community full of amazing individuals,” Dodge said. “When things were bleak, they responded in a big way. I’m so proud to be part of this village.”
Dodge said that by late afternoon Tuesday, the sound of heavy equipment, chainsaws and cleanup echoed across town.
“What could have been a disaster turned into a testament to what makes Orland Park and the southwest suburbs special,” he said. “Trees can be uprooted, power can go out and roofs can take a beating—but the strength, kindness and neighbor-helping-neighbor pride of Orland Park remains completely unshakable.
“Thank you, Orland Park. You stepped up for each other. Let’s keep that spirit going as we finish cleanup and get fully back to normal.”
