Cleanup underway after tornadoes leave damage across parts of Chicago area
ABC7 Chicago • • general
Key Points:
- Strong thunderstorms on Thursday spawned at least two confirmed tornadoes in Streator, Illinois, and Northwest Indiana, prompting the National Weather Service to send teams to survey damage and assess tornado intensity.
- The storms caused widespread power outages, with over 170,000 ComEd customers in Illinois and more than 74,000 NIPSCO customers in Northwest Indiana losing electricity.
- Significant damage was reported in Streator, where some homes were completely demolished, leading to a state of emergency declaration; shelters have been opened in Streator and Hobart to assist those affected.
- Infrastructure damage included downed trees, blocked roads, damaged power lines, and destruction to buildings such as Andrean High School in Merrillville, which canceled operations due to roof and window damage.
- Residents described harrowing experiences during the storms, and emergency crews from multiple agencies are actively clearing debris and restoring services, with warnings issued to avoid fallen utility lines and damaged poles.