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Big storm in the Midwest - Tornado in Illinois

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JPSmit

JPSmit

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Just checking in - everyone OK?
 
I live 10 miles east of Champaign. I've not had power (other than my generator) since about 2:00pm CST. I live in the country, about 2 miles south of Saint Joseph. We had very. very high winds and driving rain that lasted until about 3:00pm. The winds are still high. A small town, Gifford, about 19 miles north of me, was hit pretty hard. Washington, IL (a little outside of Peoria) was pretty well demolished.
 
I have friends (and fellow MGC owners) who live in Washington, IL near Peoria. Their town was hit by an F5 tornado this afternoon. I've not heard from them. The damage in Gifford was from an F2
 
Terrible news. I hope the damage in terms of life lost is low.
 
Heard from Nick and Ginger Ash (MGC owners) from Washington. Their house sustained a little damage, but they lost their large garage...I don;t know the outcome of the MGC. The residents of Gifford (the town near me) are slowly recovering. Water and electricity should be restored to the village by Thursday. Crews from all over are assisting in erecting new power poles, etc. I was lucky...I only lost power for 12 hours and had one piece of siding let go from the house. My mother-in-law's house escaped damage as the tornado passed Thomasboro (IL) by about 1/2 mile. Some of her friends to the northeast of her on farms were not as lucky. On of her friends who lived in Gifford had been in Indianapolis on Sunday....she return to find only the foundation of her home.
 
Thanks for keeping us updated Rick.
Thoughts are all that way
 
My wife and I were on our way to Carlyle for Voss Pecans. As we were driving East on 161 we saw this big black cloud. I commented on how black it was and we came to Germantown and there was ditches full of water. When we continued thru past Germantown the cloud had mysteriously disappeared. At Voss' the lady told us of the tornado in New Minden. We had actually been following it as it was on the eastern side of the black cloud wall, so we did not see it as a tornado. I have never seen one and being so close and only separated by a cloud was a let down. Hope everyone recovers as there are canisters out for aid everywhere. Hope the get better service than others hit, as Illinois I don't believe can keep up with their promises. My nephew is on duty as a lineman trying to get power up and running.
 
thanks for the updates - in our prayers
 
Water has been restored to Gifford (the water tower escaped serious damage)...homes in a condition to be hooked up to the electrical grid (which was COMPLETELY rebuilt over the past three days) should be connected today (Thursday). The local CBS affiliate (WCIA-TV Channel 3) worked with United Way and collecgted almost $55k in donations in a 12-hour period yesterday for funds earmarked for Gifford. Humanity has shown it truly has a good side in this trying time as folks from all walks of life have worked together in assisting the residents of Gifford and the surrounding area.
 
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