WASHINGTON, Ill. – Like many people in Washington, Mayor Gary Manier was in church on the morning of November 17, 2013.
Manier tells WMBD’s “Greg and Dan Show”, when he came out of the church building, he knew there was storm damage, but didn’t know it was a tornado that went through town.
“I got a text message saying there were a lot of trees down on Crisendale (Lane), which is where John Bearce lives, so I knew the street. So, I started to head back from my church and into the city,
Homes on a Washington, Illinois street lay in ruins after the Nov. 17 tornado that destroyed hundreds of homes in 2013. (Courtesy of Jenn Schrock-Smith)
and looked over into Georgetown and noticed that the top two floors were gone of the apartment complex…and I started to help people that were injured,” Manier says.
Volunteers showed up almost immediately in Washington to help. Manier says a Peoria Police officer was one of the first people to show up, and he called Peoria’s emergency management, saying send everything you can.
Manier says his home was spared, but hundreds of others weren’t.
“It was just unbelievable to think that beautiful brick homes, whether all brick or made of wood…Cedar or whatever, just exploded. It was just something I’d never seen in my life, and hopefully never see it again,” Manier says.
Over 1,000 Washington homes were either destroyed or severely damaged by the tornado. Strong tornadoes also hit Pekin and East Peoria.
Manier spearheaded a massive effort to get Washington residents back on their feet long after the tornadoes struck.
Volunteers and media came from all over the country to Washington, and many of them stayed for many weeks.
Three deaths in Washington were blamed on the EF-4 tornado. Around 100 people were injured.
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