The surrounding area is wilderness with no homes, and populated
only by coyotes and deer, Momence Fire Chief Dave Horn said.
Richard Wehrle, a friend and neighbor of David Klamecki, said the
area is notoriously treacherous.
"Anybody who knows that river knows that that's the deadliest
part of the river," Wehrle said.
The girl's footprints were still visible on the island beach.
Searchers believed she had drowned and were scouring the area with a
team of divers, sonar equipment and a helicopter.
Hannah appeared just before 10:30 a.m., in an area about
three-quarters of a mile from where she's believed to have reached
the shore, McCabe said.
The girl was reunited with her parents, who were waiting with
family and friends at the grandparents' home.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Jun/16/images/ads/current/quality%20glass%20bca%20051107.png)
Hannah calmly sat in a rescue vehicle when her parents saw her
for the first time, her father said.
"She didn't say much," Mike Klamecki said. "She was eating her
banana looking at us. We were jumping around like maniacs."
Tricia Little, a close family friend of Hannah's parents, said
David Klamecki taught the girl and her two younger sisters about the
outdoors. She credits that instruction _ and God _ with Hannah's
survival.
Hannah's father, Mike Klamecki, is senior pastor at New Hope
Community Church in Villa Park. Little's husband, Brian, said
parishioners have been "praying for his whole family."
"Obviously, we're giving all the glory to God on this one," Brian
Little said.