ILLINOIS — Authorities are assessing damage in central and northern Illinois after at least one tornado was confirmed as a powerful line of storms swept across the Midwest Thursday, causing widespread destruction, power outages and travel disruptions.
The National Weather Service reported that tornadoes touched down in and around Streator, Illinois, as severe weather moved through the region. Survey teams are expected to spend several days evaluating damage and determining how many tornadoes ultimately struck Illinois and neighboring states.
In Streator, located about 100 miles southwest of Chicago, emergency crews spent Friday inspecting damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure. City officials established a reunification center at City Hall for displaced residents, while the American Red Cross opened a shelter to assist those affected by the storm.
The storms also caused widespread power outages across Illinois. According to PowerOutage.us, approximately 235,000 homes and businesses in the state were without electricity Friday morning, including about 144,000 customers in Cook County, which includes Chicago.
The severe weather was part of a larger storm system that moved across portions of the Midwest on Thursday. In addition to tornado damage, the storms downed trees and power lines, damaged buildings and disrupted air travel. Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports reported flight cancellations and delays Friday morning, though only a small percentage of scheduled flights were affected.
Emergency crews continue to assess damage and clear debris as recovery efforts move forward across affected Illinois communities.
