Storm system spawns tornadoes in Mundelein, south suburbs
A sprawling storm system generated tornadoes both north and south of Chicago Saturday, tearing the roofs from homes, knocking down power lines and overturning semitrailers. At least one injury has been reported.
Tornadoes first formed in Livingston and Grundy counties about 4:30 p.m. Saturday before roaring northward toward Cook and Will counties.
Later, as residents in the southern suburbs emerged from basements to find their roofs blown off or their power out, a tornado was touching down in Mundelein in the northern suburbs.
About 25,000 ComEd customers -- almost all of them in the south suburbs -- were without power late Saturday, said spokeswoman Judy Rader.
Illinois State Police Trooper Mark Dorencz said there were reports of damage "all over the place" in and around Will and Livingston counties, including in Dwight, Andres, Manhattan Township and Monee. He said one community reported a propane leak.
Dorencz said one person was injured on Interstate 57, a 3-mile swath of which was closed as authorities cleared several overturned trucks. He did not know the injured person's condition.
A tornado damaged several homes in the Wilmington area and downed trees and power lines, said Will County sheriff's department spokesman Pat Barry.
He said no injuries were reported.
Wilmington Mayor Roy Strong said at least two homes may have to be totaled. He said he was standing outside his home just before two tornadoes touched down together south of town.
"Some hail came down, and it went real quiet like tornadoes do," Strong said.
Another large, slow-moving tornado touched down between Richton Park and University Park about 6:30 p.m. and moved northeast, swiping at homes in several other densely populated suburbs. Buildings in some parts of Richton Park sustained major structural damage, officials said.
North of Chicago, no damage was reported from the tornado in Mundelein in Lake County.
Once the tornadoes rolled out, Strong described a kind of calm after the storm.
"It's real nice," he said. "The sun's out, it's beautiful."