Midwest Tornadoes Cause Widespread Damage in Illinois and Indiana
WHO:
ABC News - Authorities and residents are assessing damage after storms hit areas south of Chicago.
ABC7 Chicago - Streator resident Clint Stevens described the tornado experience as "the scariest things I've witnessed."
ABC7 Chicago - An employee of Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana, expressed concern for the students and vowed to rebuild.
WHAT:
ABC7 Chicago - The South Shore Line service was disrupted between South Bend and Michigan City and was restored.
ABC7 Chicago - In Merrillville, video shows several homes destroyed, with missing roofs and walls.
ABC7 Chicago - Radar clocked winds of up to 100 miles-an-hour on the city's South Side during the storm.
NBC News - More than a dozen tornadoes left a path of destruction across the Midwest.
ABC7 Chicago - At least two confirmed tornadoes occurred, causing significant damage.
ABC7 Chicago - Over 170,000 customers were without power due to the storms, according to ComEd.
ABC7 Chicago - More than 74,000 customers in Northwest Indiana were without power, as reported by NIPSCO.
ABC7 Chicago - A state of emergency was declared in Streator, a town of about 12,000 people.
ABC7 Chicago - The Red Cross opened a shelter at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church for those in need of assistance.
ABC7 Chicago - Operations at Andrean High School have been canceled for the foreseeable future due to storm damage.
WHERE:
ABC7 Chicago - In the Dyer, Saint John, Indiana area, more trees were uprooted, and sewage pipes and electrical lines were pulled up.
NBC News - Damage was reported in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
ABC7 Chicago - Cleanup is underway across the Chicago area, specifically in Streator, Naperville, Bartlett, and Northwest Indiana.
ABC7 Chicago - The shelter for storm victims in Hobart is located at the police complex gym on 704 East Fourth Street.
ABC7 Chicago - The West Lawn neighborhood in Chicago experienced damage, particularly near 62nd and Lawndale.
WHEN:
ABC7 Chicago - The National Weather Service will send a team to survey damage on Friday.
ABC7 Chicago - Cleanup efforts began after strong thunderstorms spawned tornadoes on Thursday.
WHY:
NBC News - The tornadoes were spawned by strong thunderstorms affecting the Midwest.
HOW:
ABC7 Chicago - Multiple agencies from as far as Illinois are assisting as first responders search and assess the damage.
ABC7 Chicago - Residents reported hiding in bathrooms and basements during the tornado as they heard parts of their homes crumble.
ABC7 Chicago - Crews worked overnight to clear downed trees blocking roads and driveways.
(UPDATED June 12, 2026 16:01 UTC)
Severe storms have caused significant disruption in the South Shore Line service between South Bend and Michigan City, although the service has since been restored. In Merrillville, video footage reveals extensive damage, with several homes missing roofs and walls, while radar recorded winds reaching up to 100 miles per hour on the South Side of Chicago. First responders from multiple agencies, including those from Illinois, are currently on the scene to search for survivors and assess the widespread damage in areas like Dyer and Saint John, Indiana, where uprooted trees and damaged infrastructure have been reported.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 13:57 UTC)
Authorities and residents are currently assessing damage after a series of tornadoes left a path of destruction across the Midwest, particularly affecting areas south of Chicago. Streator resident Clint Stevens described the experience as one of the scariest moments of his life, while over 170,000 customers were left without power due to the storms, prompting a state of emergency in Streator and the opening of a Red Cross shelter for those in need. Cleanup efforts are underway in several locations, including Streator, Naperville, and Bartlett, as crews work to clear downed trees and restore services following the severe weather.