CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) -- Last week marked 20 years since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast -- one of the worst natural disasters in the nation's history. Even with Central Illinois being more than 700 miles away, people rushed down to help -- and are still lending a hand today.

"The destruction was worse than what I saw in Afghanistan," Champaign Police Chief Timothy Tyler said.

Before he took over as Champaign's Police Chief, Tyler served in the Illinois National Guard. He was deployed overseas for more than 400 days before coming back stateside. But just days after getting back, Tyler got a phone call.

"Before Labor Day, we were on a C-5, headed down to Katrina, and we flew out from Springfield. And a couple hours later, we were landing in what they call Belle Chasse, Louisiana,"

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