CHICAGO — Strong storms that swept across northern Illinois spawned at least four tornadoes, severely damaged homes and forced first responders to pull survivors from basements, officials said Tuesday.
At least four tornadoes also hit parts of Michigan late Monday into early Tuesday, while possible tornadoes came through northern Indiana and Iowa. The storms knocked out power to thousands of people, but by Tuesday morning, the skies had cleared and the rain had moved east.
Particularly hard hit on Monday night was a private camping resort in Sublette, Illinois, a community about 100 miles west of Chicago. Five people were hurt, and one was hospitalized with serious injuries. The National Weather Service confirmed it was an EF-2 tornado with winds between 111 mph and 135 mph.
Fire Chief Kevin Schultz said damage was worse than anticipated, spread across about 700 acres of the Woodhaven Association resort.
“At this point in time, the best words to describe it is decimated,” Schultz said Tuesday morning. “There are trailers that are in trees. There are trailers that are upside down. … It is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”