'Lives were saved': State officials assess tornado damage, offer encouragement

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker made a stop in Belvidere Sunday along with other state officials to survey the damage done by a tornado with his own eyes and to personally thank local residents, first responders and concertgoers for taking quick action to help others.

"I'm really tremendously grateful to the residents here in Belvidere and to the concertgoers and first responders who risked their lives on Friday night to pull people out of the rubble and the wreckage after the EF-1 tornado touched down here," Pritzker said. "Lives were saved because of the quick work of the people who live here and work here. ... Our gratitude is endless."

A total of 48 people were injured when the roof of Belvidere's historic Apollo Theatre collapsed during the storm, Pritzker said, five of whom remained in critical condition at area hospitals.

Pritzker then asked for a moment of silence for Fred Livingston Jr. of Belvidere who died. Livingston and about 250 others were attending a heavy metal rock show Friday at the Apollo when the roof caved in over the front of the stage where people were standing as they waited for the next band to come on.

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Pritzker has authorized a state disaster proclamation for Boone County and others, According to the National Weather Service, at least 12 tornadoes touched down in Illinois Friday night. The proclamation will help those communities in their recovery from the storm damage.

According to ComEd's online outage map, 18 power outages remained as of late Sunday, affecting about 550 customers across northern Illinois. There were more than 1,000 power outages Friday night.

Belvidere Mayor Clint Morris gave his own thanks Sunday — to police, fire and first responders, as well as public works employees, Belvidere residents and concertgoers.

"Belvidere is a strong community," Morris said. "We started our recovery on Friday evening."

According to Alicia Tate-Nadeau, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, tornados alarms did go off in Belvidere Friday night. Officials said they have come to learn that the venue was in the process of getting concertgoers to take shelter when the damage occurred.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Belvidere shows its strength in aftermath of tornado, roof collapse