Chicago hit by severe storms as 500,000+ lose power, flights halted

Chicago and parts of the wider Midwest were hit by severe storms on Tuesday, leaving more than 500,000 customers without power, grounding flights and causing widespread damage across Illinois and north-western Indiana.Power outages affected more than 600,000 customers across Illinois and Indiana at the peak of the storm, according to PowerOutage.us, with Lake and Porter counties in Indiana and Will County south of Chicago among the hardest-hit areas. The storms also disrupted air travel, with all flights temporarily halted at Chicago’s two major airports as officials dealt with the dangerous conditions and worked to clear a backlog.The storms brought torrential rain and extreme winds, with a 99 mph (159 kph) gust recorded in Gary, Indiana. Numerous other locations reported winds of 80 mph (128 kph) or more.The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said preliminary information indicated that the system, which moved from Iowa into Indiana over several hours, qualified as a derecho – a widespread, long-lasting windstorm capable of producing damage comparable to that caused by tornadoes. Roofs torn off, roads floodedThe force of the storms was felt across the Chicago suburbs and into Indiana, where photos and videos showed fallen trees, flooded roads, debris and homes with sections of their roofs ripped away.At Midwest Animal Hospital in Orland Park, staff rushed to protect dozens of dogs after winds exceeding 70 mph began tearing parts of the veterinary hospital’s roof away. Footage showed damaged gutters, debris scattered across the property and pieces of wood hanging from dog kennels.The storm also caused leaks and flooding in the hospital’s pet daycare area. The hospital said its roof and daycare facility suffered significant damage and would require extensive repairs, although its main operations, appointments and emergency and urgent-care services were unaffected. All staff and animals were reported safe.The damage was also severe in Portage, Indiana, where the local police chief described the destruction as the worst he had seen from a single storm. Schools across parts of the Chicago area and north-western Indiana cancelled classes on Wednesday, with some warning that further disruptions could follow as crews assess damage and restore power. Severe weather disrupts communitiesResidents described scenes of destruction and widespread power loss. In Homewood, Illinois, resident Javid Jenkins said he and his family took shelter in the basement as the storm passed.“We’re built for snow. We’re built for cold. We’re not built for this,” Jenkins said, adding that he was searching for petrol to run a generator and keep food from spoiling.The storms also affected Ohio, where nearly 290,000 customers were without electricity. In Roseville, one person died during a health emergency after flooding prevented first responders from reaching them, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said.Dayton recorded 2.07 inches (5.25 cm) of rain in a single day, breaking a rainfall record set in 1915. Forecasters warned that further rounds of heavy rain could bring additional flooding across the Ohio Valley through early Friday.Officials continued to assess the damage as communities began clearing debris, restoring power and determining when schools and other services could safely reopen.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.