Spacial tornado issue nov 2013

The Illinois Lion Lioness Leo Web Magazine

Special Issue

November 18, 2013

Fellow Lions: Yesterday many communities in Illinois hit with Tornadoes and Storm. Thousands of people lost their life savings – homes, cars and personal property. Disaster hit homes in Illinois; people are seeking help to survive. As Lions of Multiple District 1, what we can do? How we can help these needy people? Please do something – collect clothes, food items and most importantly monetary help to lend them a helping hand in need. We Lions are known for jour humanitarian help. Let us join hand in hand and place our joint efforts to help our brothers and sisters who lost everything they had to raise their families. As a Multiple District 1 Alert Chairman, I humbly request all lions in Illinois to donate your monetary contributions through your District Governor – -Lion Austin D’Souza, MD1 Alert Chairman

My

thoughts

prayers

least five states in the Midwest earlier in the day.

One of the tornadoes in New Minden, Ill., was estimated to have winds up to 200 mph.

and

are

with

everyone in MD 1 who

have

affected

been

in

some

way by the storms of Sunday. As Council Chair for this Lions year I will be talking with all the District Governors sometime today to determine storm damage in our Multiple. I am Ron Johnson/Peoria Journal Star/AP Photo

putting

together

a

storm

damage

Tornadoes' Trail: Houses Turned to Rubble, Lives Shattered

assessment so that we can work with our

Jonathon Monken, the director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said a third person was confirmed dead Sunday night in Massac County. An elderly couple was killed in Nashville, Ill., and another person was killed in Washington.

ALERT State and District Chairs to better improve our response and preparedness for events such as the storms. I thank

Destructive Storms Sweep Through Midwest At least 37 people were injured in the storms, although officials said they expect that number to rise significantly.

everyone for their prayers and concerns to the areas hit by the storms. –CC Lydia Ellis

The town of Washington, a rural community of about 16,000, appeared to have been one of the hardest hit. Rows of homes were completely flattened, trees uprooted and cars turned upside down.

At Least 6 Dead in Illinois After Tornadoes, Storms Damage Homes

By GILLIAN MOHNEY and ANTHONY via GOOD MORNING AMERICA

"I crawled into my kitchen and the whole roof came off," Washington resident Alicia Bachman told ABC News Radio. "My table went sideways, my glass doors blew in, my house is devastated and [I] still can't find my cat."

CASTELLANO

Search-and-recovery operations are underway today after severe storms and tornadoes wreaked havoc on the Midwest, killing at least six people and injuring dozens more with powerful winds that flattened homes and decimated much of the town of Washington, Ill. A sixth death was confirmed late Sunday night after 81 reports of tornadoes ripped through at

In a news release, the Illinois National Guard said it had dispatched 10 firefighters and three vehicles to Washington to assist with "immediate search and recovery operations in the tornado damaged area."

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As Tornado Rips Through Town, Man Recites Lord's Prayer "The whole neighborhood's gone," Michael Perdun told The Associated Press. "The wall of my fireplace is all that is left of my house.

Manier said he was grateful he spent so much time going over emergency preparedness disaster plans.

Illinois State Trooper Dustin Pierce said the tornado cut a path from one end of town to the other, knocking down power lines, rupturing gas lines and ripping off roofs.

"I stepped outside and I heard it coming. My daughter was already in the basement, so I ran downstairs and grabbed her, crouched in the laundry room and all of a sudden I could see daylight up the stairway and my house was gone."

"There's a lot of power lines down," Pierce told ABC News Radio. "Some of them might be live.

There's a lot of gas leaks still. So we really need people to stay back.

Lisa Hunter's son Brevin, 6, convinced his mother to head to their basement and hide under a mattress.

"There's a lot of homes affected by this including a lot of multi-family homes, apartment buildings, things like that, so they're still going through those areas you know searching looking for injured people," he added

"We just covered up with a mattress," he said.

"And she was holding me tight. I was holding her tight."

The tornado that ripped through Washington was part of a huge storm system that tore across Illinois around noon Sunday, causing widespread damage and forcing officials to evacuate the crowd of about 60,000 at Chicago's Soldier Field during a Bears football game.

When the tornado finally passed, they discovered their Washington home was reduced to rubble within minutes.

"When I went outside I was like, 'Oh, my God.' Our whole entire neighborhood. I never even knew it would look like that," Brevin said.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn declared a state of disaster in seven counties: Champaign, Grundy, LaSalle, Massac, Tazewell, Washington and Woodford.

WATCH: Tornadoes Wreak Havoc Across Midwest Washington Mayor Gary Manier was in church when the tornado ripped through the town.

Mainer quickly sprang into action and ushered people to safety.

In the small town of Gifford, north of Champaign, more than 20 homes were completely destroyed, and there was no power.

"I was in church and I actually had our worshipers go to the basement and I'm sure some of them probably thought I was off my rocker but you know a lot of times churches don't necessarily do tornado drills and fire drills like schools and businesses," Manier told ABC News Radio.

The storm also slammed through parts of Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky as it made its way east into the MidAtlantic states Sunday night.

ABC News Radio and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tornado Disaster on November 17, 2013 in Illinois 3

Lions, help the Victims; Need is Now!

tragedy, about 16 people have died in the past 33 years.

Some significant tornadoes to hit the Chicago area: March 28, 1920: An EF-4 tornado traveled over a 53 mile path, starting in Channahon, moving northeast to Wilmette and over Lake Michigan. The worst damage was in Maywood and Melrose Park. A total of 20 people were killed and 300 injured.

March 4, 1961: A rare tornado hits Chicago. And EF2 ripped through the South Side—starting at 91st and Western and traveling to 68th Street and Lake Michigan. One person was killed, 115 hurt. The storm caused $7 million in damage.

April 11, 1965: An EF-4 hit McHenry, Crystal Lake and Wauconda, killing six and injuring 75.

April 21, 1967: A massive EF-4 storm cut a 28 mile path from Cherry Valley, to Belvidere and Woodstock.

A total of 24 people were killed and 500 injured.

Thirteen were killed and 300 injured as 12 buses were tossed around Belvidere High School at dismissal time.

April 21, 1967: A violent EF-4 tornado formed in Palos Hills in Cook County and traveled through Oak Lawn and the South Side of Chicago. A total of 33 people died, and 500 people were injured by this 200 yard wide tornado that traveled 16 miles and caused over $50 million in damage.

June 13, 1976: An EF-4 tornado hit Lemont and traveled for eight miles, leaving $13 million in damage. Two people were killed and 23 injured.

August 28, 1990: A total of 29 people died and 353 people were injured when an EF-5 tornado pulverized Plainfield. It is believed to be the only EF5 tornado to strike in Chicago area.

April 20, 2004: A tornado destroyed more than half of downtown Utica. The EF-3 tornado killed nine people, including eight who died in the basement of the Milestone Bar. Other facts about tornadoes in Chicagoland:

A home sits in ruin along Elgin Avenue after a tornado struck on November 17, 2013 in Washington, Illinois. Several tornadoes touched down across the Midwest today with at least three people reported dead in Illinois. (Credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

CHICAGO (CBS) — At least two tornadoes that raked Illinois on Sunday were rated EF-4, which is extremely rare for our area–especially this late in the season.

The twisters that hit Washington–near Peoria–and New Minden–near St. Louis–were both rated EF-4 in a preliminary survey by the National Weather Service.

A final assessment may be available later today.

The most common month for tornadoes: April (There has been a tornado in January!)

A total of six people were killed and dozens more injured in the wake of a 300-mile-long storm line that exploded across the state.

The most common hour of day for tornadoes: 5 p.m.

This is by far the most common hour for a tornado to occur. Tornadoes rarely happen at night. The most common window for tornadoes is between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The deadliest tornado ever in Chicago happened in 1967, when 33 were killed by an EF-4 twister that hit Palos Hills and Oak Lawn.

The most common strength of a tornado: EF-2

The 1960s were also the deadliest decade for tornadoes with nearly 70 people killed. Yesterday’s storms were the deadliest for the month of November, Gov. Pat Quinn said on Monday.

While one tornado killed 29 people in Plainfield in 1990, improvements in advanced warning have clearly saved lives. Taking away the Plainfield

Number of tornadoes to hit Chicago proper since 1885: 3 Number of confirmed tornadoes, by county between 1950-2010: 4

DuPage: Cook: Lake: Will: McHenry: Total: 120

19 38 9 37 17

November 17. Washington is in central Illinois, east of Peoria.

The EF Scale: 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: Over 200 mph

86-110 111-135 136-165 166-200

mph mph mph mph

Source: State Climatologist Office For Illinois/National Weather Service

Maranda Souders picks up a crystal bowl and cup while searching through debris from her grandmother's home in Brookport, Illinois, after a tornado hit the small town in far southern part of the state on November 17.

Tornado damage in Washington, Ill. (Credit: Colin Hinkle)

Stacy Broniak and neighborhood firefighter Todd Woolf look for medication and oxygen supplies at the home Stacy's grandmother in Kokomo, Indiana, on Sunday, November 17.

Severe weather erupted throughout the Midwest and caused extensive damage on Sunday.

An overturned car rests in a pile of rubble about a mile northeast of Washington, Illinois, on

A firefighter works to clear a tree from a street in Brookport, Illinois, on November 17.

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An elderly woman is escorted through tornado debris in Brookport, Illinois, on November 17.

A firefighter, in lower center of photo, peers down into the home of a colleague whose home was destroyed when a tornado swept through Washington, Illinois.

Dave Huffman sorts through his belongings in the living room of his destroyed home in Kokomo, Indiana, on November 17. Kokomo is almost 60 miles north of Indianapolis, the state capital.

Richard Miller salvages items from his brother's home in Washington, Illinois, on November 17.

Ray Baughman embraces family shortly after his home was destroyed by a tornado south of Peoria in Pekin, Illinois, on November 17.

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Tornado victims sift through an overturned mobile home in Brookport, Illinois, on November 17. A tornado ripped through the small town in southern Illinois.

A home is damaged by a tree that was uprooted during the storm in Pekin on November 17.

Pekin is part of the cluster of towns in central Illinois hit hard by the severe weather.

An apartment manager warns Illinois State University students to stay back from a roof that blew off "The U" student apartments in Normal, Illinois, on November 17.

Firefighters stand in the middle of the street after a tornado leveled at homes in Washington, Illinois, on November 17.

Chuck Phillips looks out at the destruction that tore off part of his roof and destroyed homes in his neighborhood on November 17 in Pekin.

Billy Vestal evacuates his home in East Peoria, Illinois, with his 3-year-old daughter, Lillian Vestal, after a tornado damaged the area on November 17.

A police officer talks with a resident in Pekin after a tornado touched down in the area on November 17.

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An Ameren Illinois utility worker walks past homes looking for gas and electrical hazards in Washington, Illinois, on November 17.

Josh Ramsey recovers items from the house of a family friend after a tornado tore through the north end of Pekin, Illinois, on November 17.

Photos of destruction due to Tornado hit in Washington, Illinois on November 17, 2013 8

“Website Collections” 9

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Photographs of Tornado Disaster on November 17, 2013 in Illinois

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the Midwest on Monday after powerful storms wreaked havoc in three states.

The worst damage appeared to be in Illinois, where six people died.

Gov. Pat Quinn declared seven counties a state disaster area, including Tazewell County, where a tornado left parts of Washington, Illinois, in ruins.

“Devastation. Sadness. People that lost everything,” is how Washington Mayor Gary Manier described the scene to CNN’s Chris Cuomo on “New Day.” Another tornado in Washington County, Illinois, east of St. Louis, left a path of debris that stretched more than three miles, according to a preliminary survey by the National Weather Service.

While the bulk of the storm had moved offshore into the Atlantic Ocean and the threat of severe weather Monday was small, damaging wind gusts of up to 40 mph were still possible in parts of the Northeast, CNN meteorologist Indra Petersons said Monday morning. In the Great Lakes region, 50 mph gusts were possible, she said.

‘Complete destruction’ The storm struck Washington around 11 a.m.

Sunday, when many of the town’s 10,000 residents were at church.

The timing may have been a blessing: Dozens of homes were destroyed, but only one person is known to have died in Washington, a city of 10,000 just west of Peoria, Illinois.

“It was complete destruction,” resident CNN iReporter Anthony Khoury, who filmed the tornado tearing through his neighborhood, said Sunday. “There are people in the streets crying.”

In nearby Peoria, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center treated 55 people for injuries related to the storm, the hospital tweeted. Some of the injuries included rib, femur and pelvic breaks. Two patients were in critical condition.

Illinois Tornadoes: Gov. Quinn declares 7 counties disaster areas November 18, 2013 (WASHINGTON, Ill.) (WLS) -- Gov. Pat Quinn declared seven counties in Illinois disaster areas after tornadoes tore through the state.

Six people were killed, hundreds were injured, and many homes and businesses were flattened on Sunday afternoon. Washington, Ill., in Tazewell County, was hit by an EF-4 tornado, which has wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph.

Quinn declared disaster areas in Champaign, Grundy, LaSalle, Massac, Tazewell, Washington and Woodford counties. He arrived in Tazewell County on Monday morning and was expected to tour the damage.

"We want to make sure people are getting the aid they need as quickly as possible. . . with every asset we have," Gov. Quinn said.

Officials are asking people who want to help to stay out of the tornado-damaged areas until "gas lines are off, power is back on." Instead, people are encouraged to reach out to organizations.

Disaster Area Declared After Illinois Tornadoes Posted on: 8:13 am, November 18, 2013, by Jessica Dabrowski, updated on: 08:18am, November 18, 2013

WASHINGTON, Illinois (CNN) — Hundreds of thousands of people were without power and hundreds were without homes across 12

“The rain started coming, the skies got black, the wind was insane, and they evacuated us to underneath the concrete concourse,” said Jim Arnold, who was at the game with his 11year-old daughter.

“We’ve been through 15-degree-below weather and winds, but never anything like this,” Arnold said. “The winds gusted at 70 mph, and the winds and the rain were horizontal and everybody was running. It was just crazy.”

After the storm passed, fans returned to their seats and the game resumed But thousands of travelers scheduled to fly through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport also had to grapple with the storm.

More than 270 flights were canceled Sunday, and delays overnight stretched for an hour or more.

Massive power outages Across the Midwest, more than 321,000 customers were without power Monday morning.

Most were in Michigan, where more than 245,000 customers had no electrical service.

That was down from a peak of at least 390,000, utility companies said.

CNN meteorologist Karen Maginnis said the storms came later in the year than some might have expected.

“The primary time for tornadoes, as we well know, is springtime. Then we see a second high that comes in the fall,” she said. “Is this late? It is rather late, because the temperatures have been very warm.”

“On the backside of that, temperatures are dramatically cooler. So that cold air is filtering in behind it, warm air out ahead of it,” she said. “And … we get some twisting motion in the atmosphere. And that’s why we see this tornadic activity.”

Resident Michelle Crumrine said the winds swept her home and everything in it clean away “A lot of people have a pile of rubble still, and I don’t have anything,” she said. “It’s gone. I don’t know where it went.”

In Nashville, Illinois — about 50 miles southeast of St. Louis — two people died when a tornado with estimated peak winds of 166 mph hit.

And three people in far southern Illinois died from what was believed to be a tornado there, two in the Brookport area and one in Unionville.

Brutal winds also flipped over at least six trucks on highways about 80 miles west of Chicago, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office said.

Officials in Missouri and Indiana were also dealing with storm damage.

In Missouri, state emergency officials said a tornado may have hit Scott County, where heavy winds overturned three rail cars and blew over four mobile homes.

And the mayor of Kokomo, Indiana, declared a state of emergency and closed schools Monday. While the state of emergency was set to be lifted at 6 a.m. Monday, “unnecessary travel in the affected areas is still prohibited,” city officials tweeted.

There, the roof of a building sat in the middle of a road. A car rested on the mountain of rubble from a leveled home.

More than 160,000 people are without power across the state, said John Erickson, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is scheduled to tour the storm damage Monday.

Soldier Field, O’Hare affected Officials delayed the NFL game between the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens for almost two hours as storms approached Chicago, warning spectators to leave the stands at Soldier Field and head for covered areas.

By Ted Rowlands. Holly Yan and Michael Pearson, CNN ***************************************** 13