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Aerial view of a residential neighborhood heavily damaged by a tornado, with debris scattered, roofs missing, and several homes destroyed or severely damaged.

KE Supports Kankakee Community Following Devastating March Tornadoes

Kankakee, IL / Lake Village, IN — April 10, 2026 — In the wake of severe storms that struck the Kankakee River Valley on March 10, 2026, Knobelsdorff (KE) mobilized crews to assist communities across northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana with recovery efforts.

The storm system produced multiple intense supercells, including one responsible for 12 tornadoes across Livingston and Kankakee counties in Illinois. Alongside the tornado activity, the region experienced destructive hail measuring six inches or more in diameter. The combined impact caused widespread damage to homes, properties and infrastructure throughout the area.

With several active solar jobsites in the region, KE views these communities as an extension of its own. When disaster struck, KE employees stepped in to provide hands-on support where it was needed most.

Over the course of approximately a week and a half, from March 23 through April 1, KE team members contributed an estimated 744 hours of volunteer manpower in Kankakee, IL and Lake Village, IN.

Efforts focused on direct community support, including:

  • Going door to door to connect with residents and assess immediate needs
  • Clearing debris from properties and hauling materials to disposal sites
  • Rebuilding small structures destroyed during the storm
  • Trimming damaged trees, cutting logs and removing brush
  • Assisting an elderly homeowner by clearing a collapsed retaining wall in her backyard
A person in safety gear holding a chainsaw stands next to large cut tree logs in a yard, near a small beige house and utility poles on a sunny day.
Two men work together on a fenced outdoor enclosure. One man stands inside wearing a hat and suspenders, while the other kneels outside in a bright neon shirt, using tools to secure the fence.

The relief effort was led by a dedicated group of KE team members from our Energy Division.

A group of construction workers wearing yellow safety vests and blue helmets stand together outdoors near debris and fallen trees at sunset.

“Where we work becomes part of each of our employees' extended communities,” said Mike Huneke, VP of Energy. “We do our best to treat our communities with respect and do right by them. I am proud of each one of our people who stepped in to help and supported these communities during such difficult times.”

KE remains committed to supporting the regions it serves, both through its project work and through meaningful community engagement.

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KE is a national, turnkey contractor delivering integrated solutions across Renewable Energy, Industrial Electrical, Power Services & Testing and Automation & Controls Engineering. We serve complex markets, including feed, flour, grain, food & beverage, industrial processing and manufacturing, cement, data centers and renewable fuels, by providing end‑to‑end expertise from design and engineering through construction, commissioning and ongoing service.