In Kankakee, Illinois, the scars left by a devastating tornado two months ago persist, serving as vivid reminders of the storm’s deadly impact.
One tragic death occurred in Aroma Park, a community still grappling with extensive damage but fueled by a strong determination to rebuild and recover.
The tornado’s path of destruction displaced numerous residents, some of whom remain in limbo, waiting to reconstruct their lives and homes. While some residents have opted to relocate permanently, others are left in a frustrating hold, anticipating the arrival of contractors and responses from insurance providers.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
Strewn across the debris-strewn landscape of Aroma Park are personal belongings—mattresses, toys, and more—marking the spots where homes once stood.
This small town was one of several struck by an EF-3 tornado in March, which claimed one life here and two more in Lake Village, Indiana, where similar devastation was witnessed.
“The devastation is simply unbelievable,” remarked Roger Forbes, a resident of Aroma Park, reflecting on the widespread destruction.
RELATED | Chicago-area group brings essential supplies to Kankakee after deadly tornado
Forbes has lived in Aroma Park for more than 40 years. He feels like one of the lucky ones, as much of his home is still intact, but his roof still needs major repairs. Like many of his neighbors, he’s still waiting for a visit from his contractors.
“It’s goin pretty well, but they’re all so busy, the insurance companies, the people doing the work,” Forbes said.
Just a few houses down, other homeowners were not as fortunate, with roofs still collapsed and debris scattered everywhere.
Forbes says a handful of his neighbors have decided to just move elsewhere.
“Couple of my friends down the street there they lost everything, everything personal, nothing left,” Forbes said. “Just unbelievable.”
READ MORE | 911 calls released from night of deadly EF3 tornado in Kankakee County; residents still recovering
Other homeowners are making significant progress, like Chuck Mathis, who has already replaced his roof and some other parts of the home. He has a hefty cost, already surpassing $45,000, with more work still needed.
“I just feel darn lucky I’m still alive, because that was nasty,” Mathis said. “I’ve been through some rough things in my life, but that was enough to scare me.”
Aroma Park Mayor Brian Stump says they did not meet the threshold for federal or state funding. He says it’s a day-by-day effort from the whole community, trying to get back to normalcy.
“It’s been amazing, from day one it’s neighbors helping neighbors,” Stump said. “We’ve had people come from all over the place, not just the county, but the whole state.”
Some of the homeowners say it still could take months before contractors visit their homes, and again, others are just deciding to not come back, but all of them are just relying on each other to continue moving forward.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
