Written by Dennis Lee
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ariel Tsai
On March 10, 2026, a powerful tornado formed near Greater Kankakee Airport in Illinois. After the tornado swept through the Kankakee and Aroma Park areas, it continued eastward to Lake Village, Indiana. With a passage covering more than 130 miles, the tornado left devastation in all places it hit. Buildings were destroyed, trees were uprooted, and many families lost their homes in a short period of time. According to the American Red Cross, more than 500 families in the Kankakee area were affected to varying degrees, with about 111 homes severely damaged.
Upon learning of the disaster, Tzu Chi USA Midwest Region launched disaster relief efforts and visited the hardest-hit areas on April 18 and 19 to distribute emergency relief, providing cash cards and daily necessities, and offering one-on-one care and support to the survivors.
Midwest Devastated by Tornado
The Tzu Chi USA Midwest Region and its eleven branches and offices are located in the United States’ Midwest region. Due to its flat terrain, the Midwest has been a frequent target of tornadoes. As it is close to the Great Lakes, flooding is also a common occurrence. Faced with frequent disasters, Tzu Chi USA Midwest Region volunteers cannot bear to see people suffer. They always go to the disaster areas as soon as possible and do their best to spread love and hope in the most practical way. They provide cash cards to help people, and are grateful for the recognition and cooperation of various charitable organizations, which complement each other and gather the power of compassion.
The small town of Kankakee, which was struck by the tornado, is just an hour’s drive from the Tzu Chi USA Midwest Region’s office in Chicago. After surveying the disaster area, volunteers distributed emergency relief at the local fire department on April 18 to families whose homes were severely damaged based on a list of severely affected households provided by the American Red Cross.
This distribution benefited 37 households and 90 disaster survivors. Cash cards with a total amount of USD $25,600 were distributed. Volunteers also prepared eco-friendly blankets and scarves, and bamboo banks, as well as supplies such as instant rice and noodles, and biscuits, so that the affected residents could feel the warmth of humanity in their difficult times.
One-On-One Distribution Conveys Warmth and Respect
Unlike typical large-scale distributions, the distribution adopted a one-on-one interactive approach, with volunteers communicating face-to-face with disaster survivors to understand their individual needs.
“For me, this was kind of a new experience with the Red Cross for me. So having this one-on-one opportunity was very unique for me,” said Namara Swillum, Community Disaster Program Specialist for the American Red Cross.
Tzu Chi volunteer Kuanhung Lin explained to the recipients that these resources were made possible by small donations from Tzu Chi members worldwide. “This is not just material support; it represents the love, effort, thoughts, and well-wishes of people from all around the world,” he said. He shared that during the disaster assessment, he saw that some residents had originally taken shelter in spots destroyed by fallen trees, but fortunately, they managed to dodge in time and were unharmed. “They felt even though such bad things happened to them, they’re still looking for these silver linings where good things happen to them as well,” said Lin. He hoped this distribution could provide not only material supplies but also a sense of reassurance and strength.
Red Cross staff also affirmed this distribution model, believing that Tzu Chi’s core values of respect and care allow disaster survivors to feel understood and valued while receiving assistance.
The Moment of Life or Death When a Tornado Strikes
The disaster struck swiftly and violently, with many residents facing life-or-death situations within mere seconds.
Disaster survivor David Vercier recalled that he and his family were inside the house observing changes in the wind. “We were watching the flag waving in a breeze, and then the flag just went straight down. So I said, ‘We have to go to the basement,’” said David.
Just as they were halfway down the stairs, the tornado struck. He described the sound as if “it’s a train coming towards you,” which is particularly poignant, as he was a locomotive engineer.
I used to be a locomotive engineer, so they're loud. And it sounds like a train.
From inside the house, they could hear loud noises as trees collapsed and the house structure crumbled. In just moments, his home was completely destroyed. As he walked outside afterwards, he saw that the roof had been torn off, the walls had collapsed, and debris was scattered all over the ground.
Another survivor, Ted Danielson, witnessed the approaching tornado: “As it crossed the river, we saw it coming. It was very close. And we were able to get down to the basement and just heard all the racket. And when the noise was done, we went outside and we saw all the devastation. Stepping outside after the storm, I was shocked to find the garage roof crushed on top of cars, trees broken, and the roof damaged.”
Survivor Tyler Boerschig was on a business trip at the time. He learned about the disaster through social media and anxiously contacted his family, but lost contact for a time.
You know, after knowing that a tornado had just came through and not knowing what the devastation was and things like that was really troubling for me.
He caught the earliest flight home. The following day, when he returned to his home with his family to inspect the situation, the scene that greeted his eyes was simply too much for him. “Our house was completely destroyed, … you know, that was our house that my wife and I, we got married and had our first kid,” said Tyler, with a tone full of sadness.
Hope Found After Loss
Disasters bring losses, but they also allow people to rediscover the connections between people.
“It’s really been a tough time, but we’re all getting through it and everybody’s alive, which is the most, most important thing”, said Tyler Boerschig. For him, the road to reconstruction has only just begun.
And, you know, insurance is great when you need it, but it's not everything. And when you lose everything, every little bit (of help) counts.
David Vercier and his wife, Jacqueline, recalled that when the tornado struck, the ceiling began to collapse and floodwaters surged into the basement. “We lost half our house… But we’re not the worst in the neighborhood, so we’re lucky,” said Jacqueline.
She admitted that she had never heard of Tzu Chi before. Jacqueline shared, “Unless you’re in this situation, you don’t realize what all these people (Tzu Chi) can do for you. And it’s really so heartwarming.” Although they lost half of their home, they felt an unprecedented warmth at the distribution site.
We've never heard of Tzu Chi before. And this was kind of a wonderful surprise, the organization and all the people, and we're quite amazed.
What’s even more touching is that the couple even had the idea of “donating some of it (the emergency relief) back.” “I really think that it’s just incredible. Like I said, there’s probably people that are a lot worse off than us”, said Jacqueline. This mindset of moving from receiving help to helping others allows a cycle of kindness to quietly begin.
Tzu Chi's Aid Relieves Imminent Needs
Volunteers of the Tzu Chi USA Indianapolis Service Center drove for about two hours from Indianapolis to Lake Village, a disaster-stricken area, on April 19 to distribute emergency relief. Despite the fact that the location is only about an hour’s drive from the Chicago Chinatown Service Center, Indianapolis volunteers took the initiative to go and provide support, demonstrating teamwork and positive energy.
Volunteers met at the local library and held a distribution that assisted 22 households and 78 disaster survivors. They distributed cash cards totaling USD $17,200, as well as daily necessities such as instant rice and noodles, blankets, scarves, and bamboo banks, bringing immediate care and warmth to the affected families.
Our greatest wish is for them to feel the energy of love and be able to continue on their journey.
Thomas Hsu, Director of the Indianapolis Service Center, said that what he saw during the disaster relief was shocking: “You can see trees uprooted and houses with only foundations left. The scene was really shocking.” He noted that the distribution was not just about providing supplies but also about letting the affected residents feel a sense of support so that they could continue to face the future.
Homes Instantly Turned to Ruins as the Tornado Strikes
American Red Cross volunteer Peggy Grant recalled, “I was on my way to the shelter … I could see the devastation as I drove past on 41, and it was just… you know, words fail.” She also witnessed the community’s resilience: “All the people rallying around right away, trying to get trees off of homes and out of the way and clearing debris so that other service vehicles could get in and start helping people.”
A survivor, John McFarlane, said, “That was the worst experience I have ever experienced. It was the scariest.” After receiving the relief supplies, he was deeply moved and said, “At first, I wasn’t too happy, but then when I came back, it was like a big loving family that I didn’t know.”
Survivor Shelby Wolber was home alone with her five children. In the face of the sudden disaster, she could do nothing but take her children to seek shelter. Recalling the scene, she still said with lingering fear, “It was very scary, and of course, traumatic, but everybody’s okay.”
Humanistic Warmth Illuminates Hope
For many disaster survivors, the road to post-disaster reconstruction remains fraught with challenges. Shelby Wobler mentioned that the insurance policy requires her to pay for everything up front first and then wait for reimbursement. “And in today’s world, that’s just not always financially feasible for most people. So, we’ve been living on the bare minimums.”
She said the emergency relief would be used for children’s clothing and daily necessities, saying, “Maybe we can ease a little bit of that burden now.”
At the end of the distribution, volunteers shared the spirit of the bamboo bank, so that seeds of kindness can continue to sprout in the disaster area. Shelby said emotionally, “You reached out to us during the most difficult time of our lives, like a beam of light shining on us.”
In the face of the unpredictability and devastation brought by disaster, the care and concern between people becomes the most steadfast force. Tzu Chi volunteers accompanied disaster survivors through their darkest times with practical, concrete actions, ensuring that love and hope continued to flow and endure in the Midwest region.
