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By Hollie Silverman
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Two people died and multiple homes collapsed after a large tornado struck Lake Village, Indiana, Tuesday evening, part of a severe storm system that also produced giant hail and additional tornadoes across the Midwest, officials said.
Images from the scene showed a Family Dollar storefront reduced to twisted metal and debris as first responders combed through wreckage in the rural community about an hour south of Chicago.
Authorities in Newton County reported that an elderly man and woman from the same family were killed in Lake Village, while several others were hospitalized after the tornado hit shortly before 7 p.m. local time, CNN reported.
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In Illinois, another tornado tore through Kankakee, decimating buildings and leaving destruction in its wake.
Why it Matters
The deadly tornado in Lake Village came amid a multi-state severe weather outbreak that threatened more than 90 million people from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic.
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Officials reported overwhelmed 911 systems south of Chicago and widespread structural damage, while forecasters warned of additional severe thunderstorms later Wednesday.
What To Know
An elderly man and woman died in Lake Village after a tornado struck the northwest Indiana community, with first responders describing “total devastation,” according to the Newton County coroner and local fire officials cited by CNN. The Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department said the tornado hit just before 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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Fire Chief Rob Churchill said early assessments found collapsed houses and people trapped, and noted loose livestock in the aftermath, CNN reported.
Images showed an employee emerging after being rescued from a destroyed Family Dollar in Lake Village and first responders surveying the wreckage where two employees had been trapped and later rescued uninjured.
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At least 10 tornadoes were reported across Texas, Illinois, and Indiana on Tuesday, including a long-track supercell that spawned several tornadoes in Illinois and Indiana, CNN reported. One hailstone in Illinois measured six inches in diameter and may have set a new state record, according to preliminary reports cited by the outlet.
Drone video from Kankakee County, Illinois, showed buildings torn apart and debris scattered through neighborhoods as crews worked overnight, while the county’s Emergency Operations Center was activated and an emergency declaration was filed with the state, officials said. Authorities reported nine minor injuries and no deaths in Kankakee County, according to CNN.
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The Associated Press reported that tornadoes in parts of Illinois and Indiana leveled homes and overwhelmed a 911 center south of Chicago, as downed trees and power lines complicated overnight response.
Where Tornado Watches, Warnings Have Been Issued Today
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued tornado watches Wednesday morning for parts of Illinois and Indiana, extending into sections of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, with the threat shifting south of the hardest-hit areas from Tuesday night, forecasters said. Local warnings evolved throughout the day as storms tracked east and reintensified in the afternoon.
How Often Does Illinois Get Tornadoes?
Illinois averages roughly 54 tornadoes per year based on 1991–2020 climate normals, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. Activity peaks from March through June, with May historically the most active month, though significant tornadoes can occur in any season.
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Where is Lake Village, Indiana?
Lake Village is a rural community in Newton County in northwest Indiana, located about an hour south of Chicago. Officials there reported extensive damage to homes and businesses after Tuesday’s tornado, with rescue operations continuing into Wednesday.
Where is Tornado Alley?
"Tornado Alley" is a commonly used but unofficial term for U.S. regions with frequent tornadoes, often including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota, with significant activity also in the Midwest and Southeast. NOAA notes there is no single, universally accepted boundary and that tornado frequency can shift year to year.
What People Are Saying
Lori Postma, spokesperson for the Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department, as reported by CNN: “Right before 7 p.m. (Tuesday), a large tornado hit our community, and it hit us hard.”
Rob Churchill, Lake Township fire chief, said, according to CNN: “When first responders made an early assessment overnight, they found ‘total devastation."
Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran said in a late Tuesday video from Lake Village, CNN reported: “[There is] a lot of damage. Please do not come here. Do not try to help.”
Mike Downey, Kankakee County, Illinois, Sheriff said after the tornado moved through the county, according to CNN: “I want to remind area residents to check on their neighbors and loved ones but to avoid unnecessary travel, if at all possible.”
What Happens Next
NWS teams planned damage surveys across Indiana and Illinois to determine tornado counts and ratings, with preliminary reports of giant hail and long-track supercells under review. Forecasters said Wednesday’s severe storm risk would shift east with damaging winds the primary concern, while a few tornadoes remained possible, and hazards were expected to diminish Thursday as a broader pattern change set in.
Local authorities in Newton County continued search-and-rescue operations, shelter support, and damage assessments in and around Lake Village, while Illinois officials in Kankakee County maintained an emergency response posture amid debris removal and power restoration, CNN reported.
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