Storms Spawn Tornadoes South of Chicago, Leaving 380,000 Without Power

A line of strong storms produced at least three tornadoes Thursday in communities south of Chicago, damaging homes and knocking out power to about 380,000 customers in Illinois and Indiana. Officials in Merrillville, Indiana, reported extensive damage including homes torn apart, downed trees and power lines blocking streets, and part of a high school roof ripped off.

Multiple agencies assisted local first responders in searching and assessing the damage, town officials said on social media.

The National Weather Service confirmed at least two additional tornadoes struck areas in and around Streator, Illinois, and Hebron, Indiana. Photos and video posted online showed damage similar to that in Merrillville, and the weather service said it will survey the region over the next several days to determine the total number of tornadoes.

In Streator, emergency crews inspected damage while a reunification center opened at city hall and the Red Cross set up a shelter. Streator Mayor Tara Bedei said there were no reported deaths. “We are incredibly grateful for the safety of our residents and the quick action of emergency personnel,” she said in a statement.

us. Another 144,000 customers were without electricity in Indiana. The storms delayed or halted flights at airports including Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York on Thursday. On Friday morning, 15 flights were canceled and about two dozen delayed at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports, a small share of total operations, FlightAware reported.

The tornadoes followed severe storms that swept the Midwest on Wednesday, knocking out power, damaging buildings, and canceling flights. In Des Moines, Iowa, police said a 54-year-old man died Wednesday after a tree fell on him during those storms.