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Damaging storms roll in power outages, blow roof off
By Bridget Flynn
bflynn@pantagraph.com
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COLFAX -- Central Illinois was hit by storms Sunday afternoon but McLean County and surrounding areas experience minimal damage and only one minor personal injury was reported.

The skies over Bloomington-Normal became darkened at about 4 p.m. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for McLean county at 3:29 p.m. and cancelled it at 6:10 p.m.

A severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect for McLean County, Tazewell and Woodford counties until 7 p.m.

Over 4,500 Ameren IP customers experienced a power outage due to the severe weather. Many traffic lights on Towanda Avenue between College Avenue and Washington Street were out. The traffic control lights from Washington Street to Clinton Street were inoperable.

Neil Johnson, Ameren spokesman, said tree crews and line crews were being sent out to look for outages at about 5 p.m. He said once Ameren workers will work throughout the night to restore power. He said once Ameren restores power, he expects city workers to reset the traffic lights.

Johnson said the outages were due to strong winds of 45 miles per hour, trees falling and causing conductors to stop operating. As of 9:35 p.m. 2,226 people in the Bloomington-Normal area had not had their power restored.

A tree fell across the road Illinois 9 near the intersection of 2900 East in McLean County. Ellsworth fire department was in the process of removing the tree and High winds have swept through McLean County in the Colfax are

At the same time, people in Colfax were cleaning up from widespread tree damage.

“It came so quick,” said Tracey Hays, as she cleaned up branches on Center Street in Colfax.

She said she was cooking when the power when out in her home. Then she could hear strong wind.

“I don’t have a basement, so I sat on the stairs,” she said.

She was listening to the radio when the power when out, then had no idea what was happening.

At the corners of North and Center Streets, a tin roof was peeled back on a building. It looked like a tin can lid peeled off with a can opener.

Curt Hawk, director of the McLean County Emergency Management Agency, said one man suffered minor injuries and there were dozens of damage reports in the Colfax, Carlock and Lake Bloomington areas. A man had a slight head injury after a limb hit him during a cookout in Hudson, Hawk said.

Most damage assessment teams were finding the damage was likely caused by straight-line winds. But a spotter reported seeing a tornado north of Colfax and a sheriff’s deputy’s wife reported seeing a funnel cloud pass over Lake Bloomington, he said.

Hawk said 16 homes in Colfax were damaged by the storm, of which 11 are still inhabitable. Four others received minor damage requiring repairs before people can live in the homes, and one had major damage, he said.

There were also 21 reports of damage in Carlock, but none required people to find alternate places to stay, Hawk said. The reports included damage such as curled shingles, a downed portion of a fence and vehicles hit by trees and branches.

At least one business in Colfax sustained major damage and four others in the Lake Bloomington area suffered small amounts of damage, Hawk said.

Hawk said the reports are “another reason why people need to be prepared and need to be aware of storms approach and take cover as necessary.”

Officials with the National Weather Service office in Lincoln were still trying to determine Monday morning whether any tornadoes were responsible for the damage.

Damage elsewhere

Tazewell County experienced minor damages from the storms. Bill Nowlin, director of Emergency Service Disaster Agency, said a large utility shed was damaged and a tree briefly obstructed traffic East of Morton near Route 150 and Washington Street.

One outbuilding in El Paso was damaged and many trees in Woodford County fell, said Woodford County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Hix.

Watseka and Woodland and surrounding areas were showered at about 5 p.m. with pea-sized hail, said Carl Gerdovoich, director of Iroquois County Emergency Management Association.

Chuck Schaffer, meteorologist with National Weather Service, said at 8:52 p.m. that no tornadoes had been confirmed.

Kirk Huettl, meteorologist with National Weather Service, said that strong winds are moving into Southeast Illinois, he said. He said Bloomington-Normal probably will have “quiet weather patterns” until Friday.

Reporter Phyllis Coulter contributed to this report

Take a look
Scott Tongate and Dustin Nunamaker, both of Colfax, stretched a tarp across Tongate's house after an apparent tornado ripped about one-third the roof off the structure, about 4:30 p.m., Sunday, June 15, 2008. A heavy thunderstorm produced estimated winds of 60 m.p.h. and spawned at least one tornado, said Colfax fire officials. Tongate, his wife and two children were not at home when the storm hit. Damage was reported throughout the eastern half of McLean County. (The Pantagraph, David Proeber)
Ruthie Dowell watched as Randy Van Note cleared storm debris from her front yard in Colfax after a a heavy thunderstorm and possible tornado ripped through the town about 4:30 p.m., Sunday, June 15, 2008. Colfax fire officials said there were reports of damage to at least four structures with heavy tree and limb damage throughout the community. Damage was reported throughout the eastern half of McLean County. (The Pantagraph, David Proeber)
It may have been the happiest Father's Day yet for Scott Tongate who hugged his son, Alexander, 8, after an apparent tornado ripped about one-third the roof off their home in Colfax, about 4:30 p.m., Sunday, June 15, 2008. No one in the family was injured. A heavy thunderstorm produced estimated winds of 60 m.p.h. and spawned at least one tornado, said Colfax fire officials. Tongate, his wife and two children were not at home when the storm hit. Damage was reported throughout the eastern half of McLean County. (The Pantagraph, David Proeber)
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Reader comments on this story - 15 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Michael wrote on Jun 16, 2008 3:28 PM:

" My power was out for 8 and a half hours, AmerenIP work crews were working on it and that was great. their automated phone message let me know that they were on top of it, it was a very efficient message, I liked that. When storms hit, I almost always stay in my mobile home, unless the sky looks real greenish, I don't usually worry. It was a pretty short storm for as windy as it got though. "

FireBoi84 wrote on Jun 16, 2008 1:36 PM:

" Good to see some people have power...here we are nearing 22 hours later and some people still don't have it back!! "

Dan Witaker wrote on Jun 16, 2008 11:56 AM:

" Buh buh bad news.... "

Dan Witaker wrote on Jun 16, 2008 11:47 AM:

" Buh buh bad news.... "

Dan Witaker wrote on Jun 16, 2008 11:47 AM:

" Buh buh bad news.... "

Dan Witaker wrote on Jun 16, 2008 11:46 AM:

" Buh buh bad news.... "

Dan Witaker wrote on Jun 16, 2008 11:44 AM:

" Buh buh bad news.... "

jules wrote on Jun 16, 2008 11:03 AM:

" There was several big tree limbs down on the west side of Bloomington. One tree fell on a car in the parkin glot of Pheonix Towers - cruched the car and a big tree limb came off in the parking lot of Gailey Eye Clinic. Very quick moving storm - scared the hell out of me and my family. "

map777 wrote on Jun 16, 2008 10:33 AM:

" A lot of tree and property damage in Gibson City and also in Roberts. "

Jordann22 wrote on Jun 16, 2008 10:27 AM:

" Really glad you are okay Scott and Noelle (and kids). Good luck!
Jess (from school) "

wanderwls wrote on Jun 16, 2008 1:19 AM:

" Comcast was out for several hours as well, affecting computer service as well as TV. Good time to read a book. "

tatbtime wrote on Jun 15, 2008 11:23 PM:

" whose houses were damaged in colfax? "

Political Heretic wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:30 PM:

" Another effected internet user back online thanks to the fine men and women of AmerenIP. You guys...and ladies...rock! "

me wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:14 PM:

" we live in the same neighborhood. we ended up going shopping and when we returned it was back on. "

B/N reader wrote on Jun 15, 2008 7:33 PM:

" My power was out for about 2,3 hours and I live in the Washington grade school area. Many thanks to Ameren IP work crews for restoring it so quickly. "
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