FAIRDALE – A decade ago, on April 9th, 2015, a violent EF4 tornado tore through northern Illinois, leaving a path of destruction over 30 miles long. With peak winds near 200 mph, the storm devastated the town of Fairdale, killing two people, injuring 11, and destroying dozens of homes. In the aftermath, hundreds of volunteers aided recovery efforts, and economic losses reached $19 million.
Ogle County Sheriff Brian Van Vickle shared his personal experience from the devastating tornado that hit northern Illinois, recounting how he was at a law enforcement meeting when he first learned about the storm and the damage it caused. Despite his home being destroyed, Van Vickle was relieved to know his family was safe, as they were out of state at the time.
“Our house was obviously completely destroyed, you know that the dog lived which is incredible but the weird thing is just the things that were found,” VanVickle said. “My son was given a Boston Celtics jersey by my grandparents when he was little, so we have this little tiny Boston Celtics jersey that hung in his closet on a hanger and they found it in Marengo in somebody’s yard on the hanger.”
Bill Nicklas found himself leading a recovery group, raising $1.8 million to support the rebuilding efforts, which included creating a community septic field and bringing in new infrastructure like wells and natural gas. Reflecting on the recovery, he emphasized the importance of private funds in overcoming gaps left by government assistance and the resilience of the Fairdale community.
“There wasn’t a day I wasn’t touched by the courage of the people who were trying to recover and all they asked was just a little help,” Nicklas said. “They weren’t asking for a hand out there asking for help and some things that they just couldn’t master, so their courage was inspiring.”
