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Tornadoes pummel communities outside Chicago, tearing up homes and toppling power poles
U.S. News
Tornadoes pummel communities outside Chicago, tearing up homes and toppling power poles
By DAVE COLLINS and HALLIE GOLDEN
Updated 6:28 PM EDT, June 12, 2026
Leer en español
Comments 10
At least three tornadoes battered communities outside Chicago on Thursday, leveling homes and ripping down trees and power poles, while storms grounded flights for some and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands in the Midwest and Northeast.
As a large column of air descended on Merrillville, Indiana, a town about 33 miles (53 kilometers) southeast of Chicago, the city’s police warned residents to take cover. By the evening, downed trees and power lines blocked the streets, homes were torn up and part of a high school’s roof was ripped off.
Meanwhile, emergency crews were in the nearby manufacturing and farm city of Streator, Illinois, as the community reeled from tornado damage. A reunification center for displaced residents was set up in its city hall and the Red Cross opened 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.
Strong storms delayed or halted flights at airports in some cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia and New York on Thursday. Parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic also strained under high heat and humidity.
{snip}
Tornadoes pummel communities outside Chicago, tearing up homes and toppling power poles
By DAVE COLLINS and HALLIE GOLDEN
Updated 6:28 PM EDT, June 12, 2026
Leer en español
Comments 10
At least three tornadoes battered communities outside Chicago on Thursday, leveling homes and ripping down trees and power poles, while storms grounded flights for some and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands in the Midwest and Northeast.
As a large column of air descended on Merrillville, Indiana, a town about 33 miles (53 kilometers) southeast of Chicago, the city’s police warned residents to take cover. By the evening, downed trees and power lines blocked the streets, homes were torn up and part of a high school’s roof was ripped off.
Meanwhile, emergency crews were in the nearby manufacturing and farm city of Streator, Illinois, as the community reeled from tornado damage. A reunification center for displaced residents was set up in its city hall and the Red Cross opened 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.
Strong storms delayed or halted flights at airports in some cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia and New York on Thursday. Parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic also strained under high heat and humidity.
{snip}
Amtrak service was trashed. #41, the Floridian, left Chicago 2 minutes late on Thursday, the 11th. It departed South Bend, the first stop and 84 miles away, 9 hours and 3 minutes late. There's A time zone change at the state line.
https://dixielandsoftware.net/cgi-bin/gettrain.pl?seltrain=41&selyear=2026&selmonth=06&selday=11