IL

Storm restoration across DeKalb County

DeKalb County sits squarely in northern Illinois's severe-weather corridor, with 15 confirmed tornadoes between 1950 and 2019 including a devastating EF-4 that struck the small community of Fairdale on April 9, 2015, killing two residents and causing an estimated $19 million in damage across four counties. Large hail accompanies many of the county's spring and summer supercells, with peak severe-weather season running May through July. Derechos are a recurring threat: the August 2020 derecho drove straight-line wind gusts exceeding 80 mph across the county, causing widespread structural and tree damage comparable to a weak tornado. Winter storms deliver heavy snow and ice accumulation that overtax roofs, gutters, and older masonry on the county's many agricultural and residential structures.