Mount Prospect severe weather: Microburst caused damage in north suburb, fire officials believe

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. (WLS) -- Crews are out in Mount Prospect Monday surveying severe storm damage at an apartment complex.

Storms from over the weekend sheared off part of the roof of the building on Huntington Commons Road.

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"It started as a fast-moving storm, where it got really dark really quick," Mount Prospect resident Mathew Geevarghese said. "There were a couple of kids who were asleep and were woken; it sounded like a train, or something was ripping through."

Crews have their work cut out for them, after strong storms swept through Saturday.

Luckily, no one was injured.

The 75-unit apartment building has been deemed uninhabitable for the over 200 who live there.

The parking lot and a nearby field were also littered with debris.

Some of it fell and smashed the windshields of several vehicles.

Some of the damaged cars were towed away Monday.

"There was significant debris on the cars back there, but kudos to the crews that were working through the rain coming down late at night," Geevarghese said.

Mount Prospect fire officials believe it was a microburst that caused all of the damage.

The Red Cross was called to help those left without a home.

On Sunday night, there were still five families at a nearby church that's has been set up as a temporary shelter.

"All residents will be provided with a social worker. We'll be dividing up case loads so they will have a social worker to work with them for long-term recovery," said Julie Kane, director of human services for Mount Prospect.

What that recovery looks like will depend on each family.

"All of the owners of the property here were required to have insurance, but some of them were renters," said Hank Welch, with the Red Cross.

One resident said the wind was like something out of "Twister."

The roof of a fourth-floor apartment was ripped off the building with her inside.

Janel Bay hopes to be allowed back inside to retrieve some of her possessions.

Her family has lived there for eight years.

"We were able to get our documents. Everything else is there. It's just, even though we are on the first floor, everything is wet. Everything is damaged," Bay said.

Bay and her family did not have insurance. With no other relatives in the area, they are among those still staying at the shelter while they figure out what comes next.

"We have friends who are offering to stay with them. But there's three kids, my husband. There's just too many people. We wouldn't want to burden anyone," Bay said.

Village officials called it a "high-wind weather event," and said donations are being accepted.

"We are incredibly lucky that a storm of this violence did not result in serious injury or loss of life," Village Manager Michael Cassady said in a statement. "I am grateful for how our first responder professionals in Police, Fire, Public Works, Building, and Human Services respond immediately to ensure the safety of our residents."