1 week Ago By Damon R. Sheffield
The National Weather Service has confirmed a series of eight tornadoes struck areas throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana last Wednesday, causing widespread destruction and leaving communities to grapple with the aftermath. According to reports from NBC Chicago , an EF-1 tornado severely damaged parts of Gary, Indiana, including Frankie Woods McCullough Academy, where the storm sheared off part of the gymnasium roof. Three tornadoes were reported in Gary, with the aforementioned EF-1 tornado leaving a notable path of destruction.
In an effort to quickly restore a sense of normalcy, crews were dispatched immediately to start clean-up operations. "It's devastating as the principal, but I just thank God everybody was safe," Sharmayne McKinley, the principal of McCullough Academy, told CBS News , sharing relief that no students were present at the time of the tornado. Adding to the list of tornadoes, two EF-0 tornadoes were confirmed to have hit Gary later in the same day, while Highland and portions of Will County also suffered from the passage of three EF-0 tornadoes.
Not to be overlooked, Cook County saw an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down near Lynwood, causing damage to industrial buildings. The NWS continues to survey the impacted areas and may provide updates as more information becomes available. Amid the chaos, several homes and businesses bore the brunt of the storm.
One resident, Ebony Perkins, described seeing her life blown away as her house's roof was torn off by the high winds. "What I seen is my whole life is gone," Perkins said in an interview obtained by CBS News . The Gary community swiftly responded, with Mayor Eddie Melton issuing an executive order to expedite cleanup efforts and assess the need for temporary housing for displaced residents.
Power lines and trees were downed across the affected regions, leaving thousands without electricity. Utilities provider NIPSCO had crews work tirelessly into the night, promising to fully restore power by Friday evening. For those in need of shelter, the American Red Cross and the City of Gary have stepped in to provide emergency accommodations at The Monroe Center and a secondary shelter at Hudson Campbell.
Fortunately, despite the scale of the damage, no deaths have been reported from the storms. The single injury noted involved a woman rescued by Gary firefighters after she became trapped by the collapsing roof of her home, as reported by Gary Deputy Fire Chief Mark Terry to CBS News . Residents have been advised to report downed power lines to NIPSCO and non-emergency issues through the Gary 311 service or by visiting the city's website for additional information and support.
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