Violent South Suburban Chicago Storms Damage Homes, Uproot Trees and Tear Part of Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Roof Before Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert
CHICAGO, IL — Powerful storms ripped through Chicago’s south suburbs on Tuesday, leaving residents rattled in places like Country Club Hills and exposing fresh signs of damage across neighborhoods.
The National Weather Service said three tornadoes moved through the region during a derecho, including one that tracked through southern Cook County, another that cut from Monee through Crete and a third near Minooka.
Families describe fast-moving damage and basement shelter
For some households, the storm turned into a sudden scramble for safety. Carlos McGee said he and his family saw the winds approach and ran to the basement when they realized a tornado was in the backyard.
McGee also said one tree on the property was uprooted and shifted roughly 20 feet. After the storm passed, the family drove through the neighborhood to take in the damage left behind.
Nearby, Lorene Bills said she keeps a go bag ready when skies darken fast. She said she went to the basement with her purse, phone and wallet, then heard a loud boom overhead.
Bills said the storm left two holes in her deck and flipped her grill upside down, adding to the list of injuries homes in the area sustained.
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