Across the Chicago area Friday, residents were waking up to devastation, debris, power outages and more after intense storms tore through the area, flattening homes, downing trees and power lines.
“It’s like a war zone,” one resident told NBC Chicago as he surveyed the damage in Merrillville, Indiana.
The National Weather Service confirmed multiple tornadoes struck Illinois and northwest Indiana Thursday, with crews expected to survey the damage Friday and into the coming days to determine the strength, number and path of any tornadoes that touched down.
“Some of these tornadoes were strong, with notable damage occurring in several areas, including Streator, IL; Merrillville, IN; and Hebron, IN,” the agency wrote.
In Streator, videos captured scenes of an apparent tornado touching down. The National Weather Service said a confirmed, large tornado hit the Streator area around 5:50 p.m.
At least one person had to be rescued from the rubble of their home in a moment that was also caught on camera.
The Red Cross opened a shelter at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Chicago suburb as closures were put in place across the area due to dangerous damage.
“At this time, we are asking residents not to travel to impacted neighborhoods unless they live in the area or have a legitimate need to be there,” Streator Mayor Tara Bedei wrote on Facebook, noting that residents looking to access closed areas would need to provide identification to enter those regions.
Closures remained in place until at least 8 a.m. Friday.
In Merrillville, officials said “extensive damage” was reported across the town and called the storms “devastating.”
“There are road closures throughout Merrillville due to downed trees and power lines. As of late Thursday, a command center has been established near 61st and Cleveland Street, and multiple agencies from as far as Illinois are assisting as first responders search and assess the damage,” a Facebook post from the town read. “Crews have started to clear roadways. Please stay clear of any fallen utility lines or damaged utility poles as these pose a serious safety risk. Call 911 for any emergencies.”
Andrean High School in the area said its campus was closed Friday and all activities suspended or moved off-site after the building suffered “significant damage.”
“While we don’t know the full-scale impact quite yet, we do know that the grounds are not suitable for visitors or concerned friends. There are active power lines, downed trees, broken glass, significant roof damage, etc that make it unsafe. While we assess the damage, mitigate safety risk, and determine next steps, we ask that you please stay away from campus until we provide an update,” the school said in a statement.
School officials said no injuries were reported in the damage and no members of the school were on campus at the time of the storms.
“Andrean is a special and sacred place for so many of us. The damage incurred by this storm is devastating and hits us in a very personal way. But with that, we’ve always known that Andrean is about people, not infrastructure,” the statement read.
Other regions also experienced significant damage in the storms, including areas like Bartlett and Woodstock in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, Bridgeview to the southwest of the city and beyond.
“The Village of Bartlett experienced significant storm-related damage this evening following severe weather that moved through the area,” fire officials wrote on Facebook. “The most heavily impacted locations include the area of Route 59 and Stearns Road, as well as areas east of Route 59 along Stearns Road. Emergency responders have identified extensive tree damage and structural damage to several homes.”
No injuries were immediately reported in the region but officials warned of downed power lines and other hazards in the debris.
In Bridgeview, partial roofs were seen torn of apartment buildings, garages collapsed on cars, trees uprooted and power line poles snapped in half.
Officials in McHenry County reported flooding and downed power lines as firefighters and emergency personnel “responded to numerous weather-related incidents” in Cary, Woodstock and beyond.
“The most significant impacts from the storms were widespread roadway flooding and hazardous travel conditions. In Woodstock, crews responded to several reports of flooded roadways and stranded motorists as heavy rain overwhelmed drainage systems in some areas,” officials wrote on social media. “In Marengo, floodwaters forced the closure of Route 23 between W. Coral Road and Grange Road, where barricades were requested to protect motorists. Crews throughout the county also responded to reports of downed power lines and tree limbs caused by strong winds.”
No serious injuries were reported in the region due to the storms, but residents were told to avoid flooded roadways and stay clear of downed power lines.
As of Friday morning, thousands still remained without power, with ComEd reporting at least 160,000 outages in place as of 6 a.m.
Severe Weather 19 hours agoRecap: Tornadoes rip through Illinois, Indiana amid severe outbreak
Bartlett 9 hours agoWATCH: Strong winds, possible tornado scatter damage across suburban Bartlett
Chicago Severe Weather 9 hours agoNumerous road closures reported in Chicago area after severe storms
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