Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 12 hours ago
LANSING, Ill. — State Sen. Elgie Sims visited Lansing on Tuesday to tour neighborhoods damaged by Monday's EF-1 tornado and explain the first steps toward possible state or federal disaster assistance.
In this update, Publisher Melanie Jongsma explains how the disaster assistance process works, what residents should do to document damage, and how The Lansing Journal plans to connect people who need help with those who want to help.
If the Village of Lansing announces cleanup events, donation drives, volunteer opportunities, or other recovery efforts, The Lansing Journal will share that information as it becomes available.
Subscribe to The Lansing Journal for continuing coverage of Lansing's tornado recovery: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
Transcript:
0:00 - Introduction
"Hello everyone, I am Melanie Jongsma, Publisher of The Lansing Journal, and I have some information from Tuesday afternoon's visit from Illinois State Senator Elgie Sims.
"Sims came here at the invitation of Mayor Brian Hardy, and he spent over an hour touring the neighborhoods hardest hit by Monday's EF-1 tornado. Senator Sims and Mayor Hardy are working to get state or even federal disaster assistance, and Sims said this site visit is a first step toward determining whether Lansing qualifies.
"Our local officials — like the Lansing Building Department and Lansing Public Works and Lansing police and fire — have been responding to calls, and they begin documenting:
• damaged homes
• debris removal costs and emergency response costs
• public infrastructure damage (such as roads, utilities, power lines)
"Residents should also document damage and losses as thoroughly as possible, so they can submit evidence to local officials and to their own insurance companies.
"If the damage in Lansing is significant enough to qualify for state assistance, the Illinois Emergency Management Association will compile damage estimates. The governor can then authorize certain state resources and emergency assistance. For example, state agencies might help coordinate cleanup efforts or offer other support.
"It can be a long process with many layers of government involved, but the process is underway, and Senator Sims offered these words of encouragement — "
01:26 - Message from Senator Elgie Sims
02:00 - Personal thanks from Melanie
"For those of you who have let us know you want to do something to help, let me personally thank you. I understand the frustration of not knowing what to do, not knowing how to help. In Lansing, we are do-ers, we like to take action, we like to solve problems. And this is a big problem that will take a long time to solve. Months.
"But I want you to know, Lansing, that when I was walking through the neighborhoods this afternoon with Senator Sims and Mayor Hardy, I had the chance to tell people that YOU have been posting on social media, and emailing us, and asking what you can do to help. I let people know that they are not alone, that our whole community is behind them, standing with them, and we are here for the long haul. And honestly, your caring made a difference to the people I spoke with. Some of them got a little teary-eyed, some couldn't speak, and some just said Thank you — not to me, but to YOU.
"I also asked Mayor Hardy to please keep The Lansing Journal in the loop as the Village makes plans to gather donations or organize clean-ups or whatever they plan to do. We will share that information whenever we receive it because we know so many of you want to help. So stay subscribed and stay tuned for the latest releases.
"Thank you, Lansing. It is an honor to serve this community, in good times and bad. We are stronger together, and you prove that every day."
Subscribe to local news from The Lansing Journal for continuing coverage of Lansing's tornado recovery: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
LANSING, Ill. — State Sen. Elgie Sims visited Lansing on Tuesday to tour neighborhoods damaged by Monday's EF-1 tornado and explain the first steps toward possible state or federal disaster assistance.
In this update, Publisher Melanie Jongsma explains how the disaster assistance process works, what residents should do to document damage, and how The Lansing Journal plans to connect people who need help with those who want to help.
If the Village of Lansing announces cleanup events, donation drives, volunteer opportunities, or other recovery efforts, The Lansing Journal will share that information as it becomes available.
Subscribe to The Lansing Journal for continuing coverage of Lansing's tornado recovery: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
Transcript:
0:00 - Introduction
"Hello everyone, I am Melanie Jongsma, Publisher of The Lansing Journal, and I have some information from Tuesday afternoon's visit from Illinois State Senator Elgie Sims.
"Sims came here at the invitation of Mayor Brian Hardy, and he spent over an hour touring the neighborhoods hardest hit by Monday's EF-1 tornado. Senator Sims and Mayor Hardy are working to get state or even federal disaster assistance, and Sims said this site visit is a first step toward determining whether Lansing qualifies.
"Our local officials — like the Lansing Building Department and Lansing Public Works and Lansing police and fire — have been responding to calls, and they begin documenting:
• damaged homes
• debris removal costs and emergency response costs
• public infrastructure damage (such as roads, utilities, power lines)
"Residents should also document damage and losses as thoroughly as possible, so they can submit evidence to local officials and to their own insurance companies.
"If the damage in Lansing is significant enough to qualify for state assistance, the Illinois Emergency Management Association will compile damage estimates. The governor can then authorize certain state resources and emergency assistance. For example, state agencies might help coordinate cleanup efforts or offer other support.
"It can be a long process with many layers of government involved, but the process is underway, and Senator Sims offered these words of encouragement — "
01:26 - Message from Senator Elgie Sims
02:00 - Personal thanks from Melanie
"For those of you who have let us know you want to do something to help, let me personally thank you. I understand the frustration of not knowing what to do, not knowing how to help. In Lansing, we are do-ers, we like to take action, we like to solve problems. And this is a big problem that will take a long time to solve. Months.
"But I want you to know, Lansing, that when I was walking through the neighborhoods this afternoon with Senator Sims and Mayor Hardy, I had the chance to tell people that YOU have been posting on social media, and emailing us, and asking what you can do to help. I let people know that they are not alone, that our whole community is behind them, standing with them, and we are here for the long haul. And honestly, your caring made a difference to the people I spoke with. Some of them got a little teary-eyed, some couldn't speak, and some just said Thank you — not to me, but to YOU.
"I also asked Mayor Hardy to please keep The Lansing Journal in the loop as the Village makes plans to gather donations or organize clean-ups or whatever they plan to do. We will share that information whenever we receive it because we know so many of you want to help. So stay subscribed and stay tuned for the latest releases.
"Thank you, Lansing. It is an honor to serve this community, in good times and bad. We are stronger together, and you prove that every day."
Subscribe to local news from The Lansing Journal for continuing coverage of Lansing's tornado recovery: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
