EDWARDSVILLE, Ill., – The Edwardsville City Council honored the victims of last year’s deadly tornado during a Tuesday night meeting. Mayor Art Risavy led the moment of silence a few days ahead of the Dec. 10 anniversary. 

Six people died when the powerful tornado hit an Amazon warehouse. The tornado was part of a storm system that tore a path of destruction in and around the region. 

The city took time to remember the victims killed while working at the Amazon facility. They are Clayton Cope, of Alton; Kevin Dickey, of Carlyle; Etheria Hebb, of St. Louis; Austin McEwen, of Edwardsville; DeAndre Morrow, of St. Louis; and Larry Virden, of Collinsville.

Edwardsville officials also reaffirmed its gratitude to the local fire and police departments, as well as the more than 50 area agencies that helped in response to the event. 

Mayor Risavy also thanked the local community for its support. “The generosity of the community in the wake of the tornado and in the year since has been a heartfelt testament to the compassion of those in and around Edwardsville,” Risavy said. 

The tornado was part of a severe weather outbreak that spawned at least 66 confirmed tornadoes and killed nearly 90 people.