A large tornado struck Kankakee County, about 47.5 miles south of Chicago, downing trees and power lines on Tuesday. The twister caused major damage on the south side of Kankakee City and traveled northeast into Aroma Park, where it caused more destruction.
Key Takeaways
Tornadoes caused significant damage in Illinois and Indiana, downing trees and power lines. No injuries were reported in Kankakee County, but injuries occurred in Lake Village, Indiana.
- Tornado struck Kankakee County, about 47.5 miles south of Chicago
- Significant damage reported in Kankakee City and Aroma Park
- No injuries reported in Illinois
- Another tornado caused injuries in Lake Village, Indiana
- Severe storms threatened the southern Plains to the southern Great Lakes
The tornado overwhelmed the 911 center with emergency calls, according to officials. In a video shared on social media, the twister was seen ripping across a field of farmland near an airport while vehicles lined the road.
Severe storms threatened to bring intense tornadoes, damaging winds, and very large hail from the southern Plains to the southern Great Lakes. States from Texas to Michigan were under tornado watches. More than 2 million Americans were at a moderate risk of severe weather in Illinois and Indiana. Nearly 22 million were at a slightly lesser risk in a zone that includes Chicago, Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Just over the Indiana state line in Newton County, another apparent tornado hit several houses in Lake Village and caused injuries. Indiana State Police Cpl. Eric Rot confirmed the injuries but could not provide the number of people injured or their condition. "We're still in emergency response mode," he said.
In a video on social media, Newton County officials confirmed multiple homes were destroyed and there was "a lot of damage." Lake Township Fire Chief Rob Churchill urged residents to stay away from the affected area.
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