The National Weather Service is gathering information to confirm that as many as 5 tornadoes touched down Monday in Grundy, Will, Lee and LaSalle counties. Trees 1-foot in diameter were snapped in half, people were trapped in overturned trailers, even flooded roads are reported. 

 

High winds caused heavy damage in Coal City, a city of about 5,000 residents south of Chicago in Grundy according to The Chicago Tribune. The city's emergency manager reported numerous buildings, including homes, damaged, according to the National Weather Service.

“We’re pretty certain it was a tornado," said weather service meteorologist Casey Sullivan, adding that teams are expected to survey the area sometime Tuesday.

Damage
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The suspected tornado hit the west side of Coal City High School, though it did not damage the building and then continued through town and then south. A subdivision near the high school as well as the downtown area sustained damage. Many streets were impassable early Tuesday due to downed power lines and trees as well as flooding.

A total of four people injured in the storm had been transported to area hospitals for treatment, and no fatalities had been reported. In addition to structure damage, roads in the city had been blocked by fallen trees, poles and power lines, according to Lt. Nick Doerfler of the Coal City Fire Protection District.

Thoughts and prayers to all. After going through similar situations in Fairdale and Rochelle recently, the picture and disruption to lives is all to vivid.

 

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