Bartlett declares disaster after EF1 tornado; no injuries reported

An agency official for the Village of Bartlett told the meeting that the village declared a disaster after an EF1 tornado struck on June 11 and that no injuries were reported during the outbreak.

The declaration, the official said, allows the Village of Bartlett to access funding more quickly for cleanup and recovery. "I declared a declaration of disaster which allows the Village of Bartlett to get quicker funding for these clean up efforts," the official said.

The official credited residents, volunteers and municipal crews for a rapid cleanup: "I will say 24 short hours later, most of the damage was cleaned up so that the streets were passable, the sidewalks were clear," the official said, noting public works and a private contractor called Trees R Us helped reopen roads and sidewalks.

Officials thanked multiple agencies that provided on-the-ground support. The official singled out the Bartlett Police Department for setting up an emergency command post and Bartlett Public Works for clearing hazards; Bartlett Fire Protection District staff were credited with capping gas leaks so businesses could reopen safely. The official also thanked the DuPage County Office of Emergency Management and Hanover Township Emergency Services for guidance and traffic safety support.

Mutual-aid law enforcement assistance, the official said, came from the Carol Stream, South Elgin, Warrenville and West Chicago police departments. Residents were told they can contact the Village of Bartlett for assistance as cleanup continues.

The statement closed with a note of community resilience: "Sometimes the true strength of community is not just measured during the good times. It's revealed in how we come together during the difficult ones. Bartlett has once again shown that we are stronger together," the official said.