At least seven confirmed tornadoes caused devastation in Illinois and Northwest Indiana on Thursday night. The National Weather Service reported late Friday that an EF3 tornado struck Kouts. Merrillville was hit by an EF2 tornado, while an EF0 tornado moved through St. John. Other confirmed tornadoes occurred in Streator, Graymont to Dwight, and Bartlett, all in Illinois. Images captured rotation in the storm clouds as they passed over the Bramblewood subdivision in St. John.
This marks the second instance in three months of a tornado with similar velocity sweeping through the region. A previous one struck Lake Village in March.
The Enhanced Fujita scale rates tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on wind speed and damage. An EF3 tornado, such as the one in Kouts, represents wind speeds between 136 and 165 mph. According to Leanne Blind-Doskocil, a meteorologist at Valparaiso University, most tornadoes are EF1 or lower, and a mere 5% are above EF3 intensity.
The ratings for Thursday’s tornadoes are preliminary. The weather service indicated that further assessments and damage surveys are planned for areas such as southern Lake County and locations south of the Kankakee River.
Power restoration efforts are underway by NIPSCO. As of early Saturday afternoon, 29,148 customers remained without power, down from a peak of 86,640 after the storm. Estimated restoration times vary across communities. Residents experiencing outages can report them via text, the NIPSCO website, or mobile app.
The Pleasant Township Trustee’s Office announced that First Presbyterian Church in Kouts is accepting donations to help those impacted by the storms. Necessary items include gas cards, bottled water, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies. Officials encouraged people affected to visit the Indiana 211 website or call a specific number to report damage, aiding recovery efforts.
Andrean High School in Merrillville received considerable damage and thanked the community for support. The school plans to update its community post-weekend regarding the extent of the damage. Donations to support the school can be made through its website.
Merrillville officials advised those needing assistance to reach out to the American Red Cross or the Ross Township Trustee’s Office. The Red Cross has set up a shelter in Highland, and donations of essentials and food are being collected at the Ross Township Office.
Additional relief efforts include distributions of blankets, health kits, and meals by organizations and businesses such as the Salvation Army and Strack and Van Til. Volunteers from Hy-Vee were also on-site distributing supplies.
Humane Indiana announced support for pet care needs relating to the storms. Those impacted can contact them for assistance.