The Latest: Illinois governor thankful for no tornado deaths
CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on storms that moved across the Midwest causing multiple tornado touchdowns (all times local):
10:25 a.m.
Gov. Bruce Rauner says Illinois is thankful there were no fatalities after powerful storms brought at least four tornado touchdowns to the north and center of the state.
Rauner said in a Thursday morning statement that Illinois State Police are patrolling and offering assistance to local law enforcement after the Wednesday night storms. Rauner says Illinois is "fortunate things are not worse."
The worst of the storm damage appears to be near Seneca and Pontiac, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.
The National Weather Service says it has crews out Thursday morning surveying damage from at least three separate supercell paths. Its forecasters say that the number of confirmed tornado touchdowns is likely to increase. Officials also have requested an air survey of damage.
___
7:55 a.m.
Severe storms swept northern and central Indiana overnight, toppling trees with winds up to 100 mph and leaving nearly 30,000 homes and businesses without power.
National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Skowronek (Skuh-RON'-Ick) says 100 mph winds were reported overnight near the Tippecanoe County town of Battle Ground northeast of Lafayette.
He says storms produced winds in excess of 80 mph elsewhere in north-central and northwestern Indiana and heavy rainfall caused flooding in Thorntown in Boone County northwest of Indianapolis.
The Journal & Courier reports two hog barns collapsed when a storm swept Clinton County, but no injuries were reported.
Duke Energy reported about 14,500 customer outages Thursday morning, while Indianapolis Power & Light had another 12,300 outages. Northern Indiana Public Service Co. reported 3,000 outages.
___
6:35 a.m.
One homeowner says he huddled in a basement with his wife, two children and seven neighbors when a storm that produced a tornado moved into the northern Illinois village of Seneca.
Jeff Maierhofer tells WLS-TV that his farm suffered extensive damage Wednesday when the storm hit the village about 70 miles southwest of Chicago. He says everyone is safe "but there's a lot of damage." The tornado is one of four confirmed touchdowns in northern Illinois.
The National Weather Service is sending out crews Thursday morning to survey damage and says more touchdown confirmations are likely.
Nate Hermann of Serena, a rural town just north of Seneca, told the Chicago Tribune that area communities are "wiped out everywhere." He described downed power lines and tree, and flattened corn crops.
___
6:15 a.m.
At least four tornadoes touched down overnight in northern Illinois, causing damage and forcing thousands of soccer fans to seek shelter during the Copa America semifinal in Chicago.
The National Weather Service in Chicago says survey crews will on Thursday morning investigate damage along three separate supercell paths. The weather service says the number of confirmed tornadoes will likely increase.
Officials also plan to survey the damage by air.
The weather service said firefighters responded to reports of people trapped in a house in Seneca, about 70 miles southwest of Chicago. No injuries were reported. Minor injuries and damage to a gas station were reported in Pontiac, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.
Strong storms forced a two-hour delay in the Copa America semifinal at Soldier Field.