Cleanup underway after tornadoes leave damage across parts of Chicago area
National Weather Service to send tornado damage teams to Streator, Bartlett, NW Indiana, Naperville
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Cleanup across the Chicago area is underway after strong thunderstorms spawned at least two confirmed tornadoes Thursday.
The National Weather Service will be sending team out to survey damage in Streator, Naperville, Bartlett and Northwest Indiana Friday. Tornadoes were confirmed in Streator and Northwest Indiana and survey teams will survey the damage to determine the intensity of the tornadoes.
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These strong storms have knocked out power for people across our area. Early Friday morning, ComEd reported more than 170,000 customers without power.
In Northwest Indiana, NIPSCO says more than 74,000 customers are without power.
SEE ALSO: Track power outages in your area with the ABC7 Chicago Power Outage Tracker
The South Shore Line service is disrupted between South Bend and Michigan City. There is service between Michigan City and the Randolph Street Station.
In Streator, some homes were completely demolished with after a tornado swept through the southern part of the town.
A state of emergency has been declared there in a town of about 12,000 people.
Some people said that they hid in bathrooms and basements as they heard parts of their home crumble.
"I'll tell you what, it was the scariest things I've witnessed," Streator resident Clint Stevens said. "I mean, being this close to me and actually watching the funnel cloud. It, It was definitely scary."
So far the mayor said there have been no reported deaths but we are still waiting to learn about the extent of injuries people may have suffered.
One man was found in a pile of rubble at his home near Saratoga Lane and Sunbury Drive as a camera caught the moment first responders arrived to help.
The Red Cross opened a shelter at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church for people in need of assistance.
In Northwest Indiana, there's a shelter open in Hobart to support people impacted by the storm.
Crews were seen working overnight to clear out some of the downed trees near third Street and Lake Park Avenue.
The shelter, for people who need it, is at the police complex gym on 704 east Fourth street in Hobart.
Just west of Hobart, in the Dyer, Saint John, Indiana area, more trees were uprooted. and in some cases, sewage pipes and electrical lines were also pulled up.
One man who says he insisted he and his wife head into the basement, because the storm was coming.
"I saw the clouds whipping around and we went downstairs and the next thing you know I heard a big thought... I came upstairs... Saw the tree on the back on the house on my patio," resident Patrick Winter said.
Winter said a statue of the Virgin Mary, kind of hidden behind a tree there protected his house just as she has done since he was a kid on the South Side of Chicago.
In Merrillville, video shows several homes destroyed, with missing roofs and walls.
There are also many downed trees, blocking roads and driveways.
The storm damaged the roof and windows at Andrean High School. Power lines were knocked down and into the street. Operations at the school have been canceled for the foreseeable future, officials said.
An Andrean employee James was out assessing the damage Friday morning.
"I just think about the kids," he said. "They are supposed to be here for practice and summer is starting and sports and school is starting in a couple of months."
James said they are going to need tarps for the school as well as prayers.
"It's a special place and we are going to rebuild and make it better," he said.
According to town officials, multiple agencies from as far as Illinois are assisting as first responders search and assess the damage.
Crews are also working to clear roads.
Officials want to remind the community to stay clear of any fallen utility lines or damaged utility poles.
In Chicago in the West Lawn neighborhood,
This is near 62nd and Lawndale in the West Lawn neighborhood.
It appears part of the roof of the Saint Nicholas of Tolentine School near 62nd Street and Lawndale Avenue may have been torn off.
Radar clocking winds of up to 100 miles-an-hour on the city's South Side Thursday night
