Section 720 ILCS 5/29D-15.1 - Causing a catastrophe(a) A person commits the offense of causing a catastrophe if he or she knowingly causes a catastrophe by explosion, fire, flood, collapse of a building, or release of poison, radioactive material, bacteria, virus, or other dangerous and difficult to confine force or substance. (b) As used in this Section, "catastrophe" means serious physical injury to 5 or more persons , substantial damage to 5 or more buildings or inhabitable structures , or substantial damage to a vital public facility that seriously impairs its usefulness or operation; and "vital public facility" means a facility that is necessary to ensure or protect the public health, safety, or welfare, including , but not limited to, a hospital, a law enforcement agency, a fire department, a private or public utility company, a national defense contractor, a facility of the armed forces, or an emergency services agency. (c) Sentence. Causing a catastrophe is a Class X felony. Renumbered from 720 ILCS 5/20.5-5 and amended by P.A. 096-0710,§ 25, eff. 1/1/2010. P.A. 90-669, eff. 7-31-98.