{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205201019/http://schock.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397676", "Schock Joins Constituents to Honor One-Year Anniversary of Illinois Tornado Tragedy", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "IL", "Aaron Schock", "S001179", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, IL -- Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL-18) and Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL-15) released the following statements on the one year anniversary of a series of deadly storms in Illinois. A total of 73 tornadoes were confirmed throughout the Midwest on November 17, 2013, claiming eight lives and inflicting much of their damage on areas represented by Congressmen Schock and Shimkus.\n\u201cThe morning the tornadoes struck, I left church to go immediately to the disaster zone.\u00a0 When I arrived, people were still climbing out of the rubble, and helping loved ones get to safety,\u201d Schock said. \u201cOur first responders in the 18th District did an amazing job, as fireman, police, emergency personnel and volunteers worked to help families who had lost everything.\u201d\n\u201cMy office continues to monitor the progress of rebuilding and work closely with affected constituents to find the resources they need. Last year\u2019s tornadoes put our local emergency response systems to the most challenging test, and Illinoisans pulled together as communities and come back stronger. Our thoughts and prayers continue on behalf of those who lost precious loved ones and personal property.\u201d\n  \nRep. Schock marks the one-year anniversary of the twister that struck the 18th District, as well as other Illinois communities.\n\u201cSome of the most destructive tornadoes in last year\u2019s outbreak struck near Brookport, New Minden and Gifford in my district,\u201d said Shimkus. \u201cThe day after the storms I went to see the damage in Brookport, where three lives were lost and New Minden, where two lives were lost. My staff assisted me in surveying the damage in other parts of the district in the following days, and I visited Gifford less than a week later.\u201d\n\u201cA year later, I\u2019m impressed by how these communities came together to rebuild and, in my recent visits, I\u2019ve been pleased to see more recovery than not,\u201d Shimkus continued. \u201cI ask all my constituents to join me in keeping the loved ones of the lost in their thoughts and prayers today.\u201d  Reps. Schock and Shimkus ordered five flags to be flown over the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. today, commemorating the anniversary of last year\u2019s storms and honoring the men and women who have worked to rebuild affected communities. The flags will be given to the City of Washington, Tazewell County, Gifford, Brookport, and New Minden.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205201019/http://schock.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397676"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7747791241854429, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}