New Round Of Storms Could Hamper Tornado Recovery Efforts In Coal City
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Residents in Coal City likely will be picking up the pieces for a long time, after the most powerful tornado to hit the Chicago metropolitan area in nearly 25 years left behind a 16-mile path of destruction.
More bad weather on Wednesday could hamper recovery efforts in Coal City, which was hit by an EF-3 tornado Monday night.
That twister produced peak wind speeds of 160 miles per hour, and had a path of about ¾ mile wide, and at least 16.5 miles long. The National Weather Service said Monday's storm in Coal City was worse than the one that hit in November 2013, which produced maximum wind speeds of 122 mph.
It also was the strongest tornado in the Chicago metropolitan area since the August 1990 tornado in Plainfield, which was rated F-5. That storm killed 29 people, and injured more than 350.
As Monday night's twister approached Brenda Fellers' house in Coal City from the west, she and her children were not at home, as they had taken refuge in her sister's home, which was largely spared by the storm. Fellers said, when she made it back to her house on Carbon Hill Road, she almost dropped to her knees in thanks, because the destruction around her small house was widespread.
Several barns were destroyed, and boats were blown onto her front lawn. Massive trees and limbs were felled all around her house, but narrowly missed slamming into the main structure.
"We pretty much held it together, did a lot of praying, prayed a lot," she said. "As you can see, our home is still standing. Everything around us is gone, but our home is still standing.
Tuesday morning, officials said more than 100 homes were damaged by the twister. ComEd was hoping to have power fully restored to the town by Wednesday night.
Coal City Police Sgt. Tom Logan said a curfew that was in effect Tuesday night has been lifted, and officials have begun allowing contractors to enter the affected area
"The federal government, along with the emergency operations from Grundy County are going to be in there assessing the damage right now. They're going to be doing their survey today," Logan said.
There is a risk of more severe weather and heavy rain in northern Illinois on Wednesday night, with the possibility of flash flooding, damaging winds, and hail up to the size of quarters.
"It's going to slow us down, but we're strong. We're a strong community. We're going to push through it," Logan said.
In all, at least nine confirmed tornadoes touched down during Monday night's storms in northern Illinois. The National Weather Service said its investigation of the storm will continue, and the total number of tornadoes likely will increase. It could take a couple more days to complete documentation of the storm.
The small town of Sublette, about 70 miles northwest of Coal City, also was hit hard by the storm. An EF-2 tornado ripped through the luxury Woodhaven Lakes camping resort, leaving mangled steel and twisted trees in its wake. Trailer owners have been kept out of the resort until the property is deemed safe.