Lightning strikes Oak Forest apartment building, powerful storms cause flooding
OAK FOREST, Ill. (WLS) -- Residents of many Chicago suburbs woke up Wednesday to damage left behind by severe weather that moved through the area Tuesday night.
Some Oak Forest families are homeless after lightning hit their apartment building and sparked a fire in the attic.
All the occupants were forced out of the building, but they all got out safely and no one was hurt.
"This was right in the middle of the storm and I do believe it was a lightning strike to the roof," Oak Forest firefighter Gary Kasper said. "All the damage fire damage was in the roof area."
Because of smoke and water damage, it may be a few more days before residents are allowed back in their homes.
Graduate student Julie Mudryj was taking a break from studying for her final exams, which are scheduled for Wednesday, when the lightning hit Tuesday night.
"I was sitting on the couch watching TV and heard a loud crack of thunder," Mudryj said. "I thought it hit something nearby. About 20 minutes later I started to smell smoke."
Lighting left its mark on Neal Obeidat's condo, after it struck outside his children's bedroom. Fire spread quickly, as his family scrambled to get out.
"My wife was in the shower when that happened," Obeidat said. "My daughter grabbed one of the twins and she went outside. When my wife came out, she grabbed the other twin and she went downstairs."
Diane Gedrimas saw the lightning strike the apartment building from her balcony. She called 911 and ran to help get people out.
"As I got near the building, flames burst out of the top," Gedrimas said. "I went running and started pounding on the first floor."
Nearby, the powerful storms flooded Mia Novoa's Oak Forest home on Natalie Drive. Pictures show about four feet of water filled her basement and garage - the storm drains doing little to stop it.
"All of my son's toys are ruined, my mom's clothes, my clothes," Novoa said. "All kinds of things."
The storms caused problems at both Midway and O'Hare Airports. Airlines may be playing catch-up on Wednesday.
O'Hare had a ground stop Tuesday night as the storms rolled through the area. Airlines cancelled at least 115 flights at that airport.
Everything was clear Wednesday at Midway, but there was also a ground stop there Tuesday night.
Other areas saw lots of hail. ABC 7 Chicago Eyewitness News viewers from Sugar Grove and Aurora shared images of their finds. There was also hail in Naperville and Aurora.
