http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/17/washington-ill-alderman-describes-devastation-in-wake-of-tornado/CHICAGO (CBS) – A tornado has torn through Washington, Illinois, which is east of Peoria in Tazewell County.
“There’s quite a few people that are hurt. Their houses are gone.”
Washington Ill. Alderman Describes Devastation In Wake Of TornadoWBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller
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WBBM spoke with Washington, Illinois, Alderman Tyler Gee.
“I went over there immediately after the tornado, walking through the neighborhoods, and I couldn’t even tell what street I was on. Just completely flattened – some of the neighborhoods here in town. Hundreds of homes.”
Alderman Gee says he went door-to-door, yelling in windows. He said he heard banging on a wall.
“I had to climb in through the window. The front door was blocked shut. I climbed in and there was debris up against the bathroom door that she was in… I had to get the debris out to open the door.”
Gee says he is part of the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency response team in that area, and unbeknownst to him, he was in the path of the storm.
He moved locations, he says. “And that was a very, very good decision. It went right through where I was sitting in my pickup truck. It was unbelievable.”
“All I can ask for is a bunch of prayers from everybody… we’re going to need them.”
Illinois EMA has confirmed one person has died in Washington County and 43 people have been hospitalized in the Peoria area.
A tornado was also reported in Coal City, IL around 12:15 p.m., causing heavy damage to buildings and downed power lines.
According to CoMed, around 79,000 in the Chicago area are without power.
