August 19, 2026 

City Manager Pamela Reece

We know many were impacted by the Aug. 13 storms and the subsequent rains on Aug. 14 and 15. We appreciate your patience as we work to recover from the storm.

While Town employees were dealing with the same impacts as their neighbors, they came to work and immediately focused on helping our community. And, all of this happened as we welcomed 20,000 Illinois State students to Normal. 

From Police and Fire to Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Water, and many employees behind the scenes, our team stepped up. Their professionalism and commitment reflect the care and concern they have for our community. I am proud to work with people dedicated to providing this remarkable level of service. 

Thankfully, the sun began to shine this week. Monday, we officially opened the Town of Normal Sculpture Park. And, we're looking forward to Sweet Corn Circus this weekend and a special performance of "1619 - The Journey of a People," sponsored by the Normal Human Relations Commission the following weekend.

We're researching data center impacts and working to answer community questions. To that end, Normal is partnering with the City of Bloomington to provide a forum Aug. 26. Read on to learn more. 

The Aug. 13 storm left its mark across the community. During a 24-hour period, the Normal Fire Department responded to 109 calls, the highest number of calls ever for one day. Normal Police were equally busy responding to calls, re-routing traffic and alerting people to unsafe conditions. Town of Normal crews mobilized and immediately began clearing roadways and picking up after the storm. 

The Aug. 13 storm was followed by additional rainfall over the next two days, adding to the challenges of cleanup and recovery. Town crews and community partners have worked tirelessly to clean up debris and assess damage. Here’s a look at some of the damage caused by the powerful winds. 

Left: A tree rests on a home in central Normal. Middle: A fallen tree on the pickleball courts in Underwood Park. Right: A knuckle boom drops fallen branches into a waiting dump truck; over four days, more than 580 loads of debris were trucked to the Public Works yard. 

Above: A power pole snapped in pieces along Franklin Avenue

Right: A vehicle crushed by fallen trees in a central Normal neighborhood.

"It was incredible to see the staff of the Town of Normal mobilize to bring relief to our community. Every department faced challenges and every one of our people rose to the occasion. I'm proud of them."

-- Mayor Chris Koos

The Town of Normal declared a local disaster emergency following the severe Aug. 13 storm and the subsequent rains on Aug. 14 and 15. Even if it feels minor, report any damage you sustained at your home and/or business via these online forms:  

Above: Trees in Underwood Park fell around the playground.

Left: Town of Normal City Hall employees help clean debris left by the recent storms in Uptown Normal.

Above: Crews and trucks surround the debris pile in the Public Words yard. After four days, crews collected 10,703 cubic yards of debris — more than the total amount collected during the entire month of April.

Bloomington and Normal are hosting a joint community forum on Aug. 26 featuring a panel of experts representing a range of perspectives.

Submit your questions in advance to shape discussion and ensure the issues most important to the community are addressed.

5-8 p.m. | Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026 

Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts | 600 N. East St., Bloomington

On Aug. 17, the Normal Town Council took the following actions:

To learn more, read the Aug. 17 Council Action Reports (an alternate version of Item 9 was amended as noted above)

Above: Mayor Chris Koos and Director of Cultural Arts Beth Whisman officially open the Sculpture Park Aug. 17.

Above: Members of the Town of Normal Public Art Working Group surround "American Kestrel," one of the sculptures in the newly opened park at 1110 Douglas St., Normal. 

August:

Artist Chris Vallillo brings “Forgottonia,” a live theatrical, multimedia production, to the Normal Theater Thursday, Aug. 20. The mix of award-winning images and live music tell a story celebrating Illinois’s rural agricultural roots.  

Visit the Town of Normal website for past editions of Normal Now. 

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