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Galesburg Council partakes in mock tornado scenario

The “Burgnado” has touched down in Galesburg. That’s the mock scenario that City Council took part in last night, prior to their regularly scheduled meeting.

“At 12 p.m. today, a tornado touched down damaging approximately 2.5 sq. mi. from the southwest corner to the northeast corner in the City of Galesburg,” City Clerk/Public Information Officer Kelli Bennewitz said, briefing council. “At this point we cannot provide you with full details as we are continuing to asses the situation.”

Galesburg/Knox County Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Simkins led a workshop alongside a response team who explained what Council’s role would be if a natural disaster took place.

In the scenario, preliminary information shows an F-4 tornado has caused at least 10 fatalities, 78 injuries and devastation to a number of key facilities including Silas Willard, Churchill Junior High and the surgical wing of Cottage Hospital.

The response was broken down into the first two days which largely included initial rescue and then damage assessment respectively. Simkins said the fictitious disaster was modeled after the tornado that hit Washington, Illinois in 2013.

“So what you see here is the Washington footprint actually laying on Galesburg,” Simkins explained.

Last night’s workshop was the 35th “Burgnado” workshop that has taken place since 2014.

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