Widespread Power Outages and Severe Damage Reported After Tornadoes Hit Illinois and Indiana

Severe storms and multiple tornadoes swept through Illinois and Indiana on Thursday, June 11, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without power and causing extensive property damage. On Friday morning, the National Weather Service confirmed the tornado touchdowns and announced that survey crews are deploying to assess the full extent of the damage, a process officials said could take several days.

Utility companies reported massive power outages across both states on Friday morning. In Illinois, ComEd reported more than 165,000 customers without electricity, with crews addressing over 4,000 active outages. In Indiana, NIPSCO reported over 72,000 customers without power, with Gary, Dyer, and Chesterton among the hardest-hit areas. NIPSCO officials noted they had to shut off power to most of Gary on Thursday night.

Local officials and residents reported severe structural damage in several communities. In Merrillville, Indiana, downtown road closures were put in place, and a command center was established near 61st and Cleveland streets. The Andrean High School campus in Merrillville remained closed Friday due to downed trees, active power lines, and roof damage. In nearby Hebron, Indiana, residents reported collapsed garages and structural shaking.

In Illinois, houses were destroyed and trees fell onto vehicles and roofs in Streator. In Bridgeview, uprooted trees and snapped telephone poles prompted the evacuation of two apartment buildings, with displaced residents taking refuge at the Bridgeview Village Hall. National Weather Service crews are scheduled to conduct damage surveys on Friday in Bridgeview, Streator, Dwight, Bartlett, Naperville, and Kouts, Indiana, to officially classify the storms.