i want to recognize the tremendous overnight efforts of local emergency responders here in edwardsville, who moved quickly to assess the situation, locate those who are missing and save lives. so many have been engaged in assisting in these efforts, including st. clair county and st. louis city, st. louis county. madison county emergency management, madison county sheriff s department, pontoon beach police department, illinois state police, mitchell fire department, alton fire department, hamill fire department, madison fire department, glen carbon fire department and numerous other police, fire, ems agencies and machinery experts all are neighbors working to respond to this devastation. demonstrating that especially when tragedy strikes we are one
we are one illinois. in this moment and in the days, months and years to come, you are not alone. we will stand with you to help you through your grief and then to honor your loved ones. may their memory be a blessing. i want to recognize the tremendous overnight efforts of local emergency responders here in edwardsville who moved quickly to assess the situation, locate those who are missing and save lives. so many have been engaged in assisting in these efforts including st. claire county and st. louis city and st. louis county, madison county emergency management. madison county sheriff s department, pontoon beach, illinois state police, mitchell fire department, alton fire department, hamil fire department. madison fire department, glen
through to get here, there is just near complete destruction especially in some of those main town squares, courthouses, fire department, police department, churches, just as if they had been scraped off the pavement. no trees down, really the geography, it s disorienting to try and drive around or move around. many of the roads blocked without electricity, pitch black to try to move around and make sure people are safe and warm. jon, back to you. jon: you say it s a recovery effort now, steve. a lot of people are going to be surprised by that. they would assume somebody might find a void and find survivor hidden in the rubble. jon, there s been no official declaration that the shift has been made but clear from the movement and activity that there has been a change in pace via viandthe first responders are nt