Martin Dean surveyed the damage to his car, shining a small flashlight into the shattered window. Nearby, debris from an apartment building lay scattered, the roof among the remains. Merrillville, a town in northwest Indiana, suffered significant damage after a tornado swept through. This was just one of several areas affected by tornadoes outside Chicago on Thursday night. These storms were part of a two-day severe weather event in the Midwest.
Kevin Doom, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chicago, confirmed that storm surveys would take place on Friday to determine the extent and strength of the tornadoes. Initial assessments suggested a tornado passed through Merrillville and surrounding areas. Damage extended west towards St. John and northeast towards Hobart. Weather officials planned to update the number of tornadoes affecting Illinois and northwest Indiana later on Friday.
Other likely tornadoes struck Streator and Dwight in north-central Illinois, as well as the southern part of Lake County in Indiana. Despite days of storms, clear skies were forecasted for Friday, giving residents an opportunity to evaluate the destruction fully. On Wednesday, there had been over a dozen tornado reports across northern Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Illinois. These storms left hundreds of thousands without power and caused major disruptions at Chicago airports.
On Thursday, the severe weather continued. Alerts for flooding, thunderstorms, high winds, and tornadoes were issued throughout the day. The White Sox canceled their game against the Atlanta Braves, and a Mumford & Sons concert at Wrigley Field experienced significant delays.
Martin Dean, 35, found himself in Merrillville when he got a storm alert for Lake County. Living on Chicago’s South Side, he frequently visited Merrillville for work as an independent contractor. Staying at a friend’s apartment, Dean heard a rumbling while preparing to shower. Looking outside, he saw debris airborne. He lost track of time during the event.
By 11 p.m. Thursday, Dean assessed the external damage. Broken plastic panels and tree branches filled parking spaces. A car’s back window was shattered. A power line sagged over his truck. The area had been without electricity for hours. Reflecting on the scene, Dean commented, “This is terrible — it’s going to take a couple days to clean this up.” Although uncertain about his accommodation for the night, he was relieved there were no reported casualties.
Early Friday morning, Maria Williams stood outside her home in blue scrubs. Her front yard was littered with wood and insulation, while a large tree lay uprooted. The roof had been stripped away, exposing the wooden framework. Williams, a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Chicago, felt emotional about the damage. Her family, which included four out of her five children who grew up there, was now facing the challenge of rebuilding.
Williams received a call from her daughter Kari before her shift on Thursday night. Kari, 20, had not immediately realized the severity of the storm until she heard the wind. Watching Netflix with her younger brother, she witnessed debris flying, leading them to seek refuge with a neighbor after cracks appeared in their ceiling.
Upon hearing about the tornado from Kari, Williams rushed home, disregarding the long drive and missing work. Arriving in the dark with no power, she couldn’t fully grasp the situation until morning. The reality of their loss hit hard. “I worked so hard for the little bit I do … and it’s just, it’s just gone,” she expressed with emotion.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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