On Sunday, multiple tornados broke out across several states in the mid-west. Missouri, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin all experienced some damage, but the worst of it was probably in Illinois, where 6 people were killed and at least 200 more injured. Gov. Pat Quinn reported that about 400 homes were damaged or destroyed in Washington, Illinois, and he declared state disaster areas in seven counties.
Steve Bucher, whose Washington home was destroyed, described the experience of the tornado in an interview with CNN. “The sky was rumbling for 20 minutes,” Bucher said. “I told my wife I’ve just never heard anything like this in my life. Within 30 seconds, the house was literally vibrating from the direct hit of this funnel cloud. Next thing we know, things are cracking, and glass breaking and furniture came around the corner, missed us even though it came down the hallway where we were. I think my attitude was in the next minute and a half, we’re either going to be in heaven, we’re going to be in the hospital or we’re going to walk out of here. Completely in the Lord’s hands which one of those three things was going to happen.” The National Weather Service reported on Monday that winds reached 170mph to 190mph.
Indiana is also struggling with damage, and the mayor of Kokomo closed schools for Monday. City officials tweeted: “unnecessary travel in the affected areas is still prohibited.” Across the state, over 160,000 people are without power and at O’Hare International Airport, over 270 flights have been canceled.
