NWS confirms 8 tornadoes in Chicago's south suburbs, NW Indiana, 1 injured; cleanup underway
Roofs ripped off homes, school in Gary after EF1 tornado touchdown
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A massive cleanup effort is underway Thursday after a strong line of severe storms moved through the Chicago area, sparking tornadoes.
The National Weather Service confirms an EF1 and two EF0 tornadoes touched down in Gary, Indiana.
An EF1 also touched down in the Steger area.
An EF0 tornado affected parts of Highland, Indiana, NWS said.
An EF0 tornado hit rural southeastern Joliet, just east of Preston Heights, and an EF0 tornado hit the east side of Frankfort.
An EF0 touched down briefly in the Lynwood area of far southeastern Cook County, as well.
NWS teams are surveying the area to see if there were any other tornadoes.
Residents across the south suburbs and northwest Indiana are getting a closer look at the damage.
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"It was really something that can't be put into words," Gary resident Goityra Chamberlain said. "Last night sounded like a thunderstorm times 100."
Chamberlain said she's in disbelief after a powerful storm wreaked havoc on her neighborhood, damaging homes, uprooting power poles and leaving power lines strewn across the ground.
She recounted the frightening and uncertain moments as the storm moved through northwest Indiana Wednesday night, leaving some in the dark.
"It really just sounded horrible," Chamberlain said. "When I looked outside, it was like a motion picture. It was blurry. All you see is gray."
The sounds of board-up crews now echo throughout Chamberlain's community, as teams of people work to patch holes in roofs and cover windows.
"It makes me really sad, and it makes me hurt for the families that were damaged by it," Chamberlain said.
One person had to be rescued.
"One resident was trapped by debris when the roof of her house collapsed down. We were able to rescue her. She was transported to the hospital in stable condition," Gary Fire Deputy Chief Mark Terry said.
Across the street, parts of McCullough Academy's roof now rests mangled on the ground.
The storm was so strong it ripped the roof right off the elementary school's gymnasium, leaving a gaping hole.
"You see it on TV, but, to see it in reality, it is devastating," Gary homeowner Carolyn Lewis said. "We are still blessed. Had the pole fallen, it could have come down on the roof, and took more of the house."
School leaders made the call to cancel classes for the next two days, sending students into an early spring break.
"We are praying for them because this is the area we live in," said Sharmayne McKinley, principal of McCullough Academy. "We are thanking God you are safe."
District officials said they are grateful the storm hit after school had let out for the day.
"When it passed through, the first thing that went out was the electricity, and the glass that broke," Gary resident Jeron Prentice said.
Now, they are left to pick up the pieces and to determine how student learning could be impacted once spring break is over.
"We'll be able to assess the damage, determine if the young people will be able to return to this building with the damaged area being cordoned off," said Chelsea Whittington, with the Gary Community School Corporation.
"We want to be all-hands-on-deck to support our families," McKinley said. "We love you all and thank God everyone is safe."
Northwest Indiana power officials said there are still over 1,300 customers without power right now in these chilly conditions.
More than 16,000 customers were in the dark at one point Wednesday night, so progress is being made.
"What you are going to see around the city is a significant amount of tree damage, on cars and homes that evacuated a lot of people out of their homes," Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said.
He said dozens have been displaced.
One of the hardest hit areas is along 21st Drive. Several homes had their roofs blown off, and windows shattered.
"When I got home, I seen my house collapse," Gary resident Ebony said.
It was her dream home. She moved in one year ago.
"Hoping they can rebuild my house; I love my house. It was to me move-in ready," she said.
Melton said there are still lots of downed wires all over the city. They are asking people to stay away from them because they still may be live.
Lake County, Indiana leaders said that they are working with the Red Cross to provide shelter to those who need it.
Storms rip through south suburbs
In Highland, multiple trees were uprooted and crews worked to remove debris.
Jessica Ramirez says her mom went outside in the middle of the storm to move her car.
She says a falling tree missed her by seconds.
"It went 0 to 100 real quick. She came out, reversed back and within seconds of reversing back the tree was down," Ramirez said. "Our driveway is pretty much not usable. When the tree uprooted, it uprooted the front the driveway."
The powerful storm also caused significant damage in the south suburbs.
Video from Steger shows what's left of a warehouse that was torn apart by the high winds.
Debris from that roof ended up on the railroad tracks.
People who hid from the storm's path believe what they saw was a funnel cloud.
"It was just going in a circular motion down the street; it was just leaves, whatever was around it, straight down," one resident said.
In New Lenox, a UPS tractor trailer proved no match for the powerful winds.
The storm flipped the entire tractor trailer on its side. The driver and a passenger were not hurt.
Four tornadoes hit the area last week, as well.
