LENA, Ill. — A series of reported tornadoes and destructive winds tore through the Upper Midwest on April 17, causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, though officials reported no fatalities as of April 18.
The storms barreled through parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, ripping roofs off buildings, uprooting trees, and leaving rural roads impassable with debris. In Lena, Illinois, a village of nearly 3,000 people about 117 miles (188 kilometers) northwest of Chicago, officials said downed trees and wires initially made sections of the community inaccessible. The Stephenson County Sheriff’s office advised the public to avoid the area.
“We are extremely fortunate that this storm did not result in loss of life or serious injury,” Stephenson County Sheriff Steve Stovall said of the storm that hit Lena on Friday.
In central Wisconsin, a reported tornado damaged homes in the cities of Kronenwetter and Ringle, according to Ringle Fire Chief Chris Kielman. Some residents were briefly trapped in their basements, officials said. Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb said he had not seen this level of devastation during his 34 years in law enforcement. “A lot of people are going to need a lot of help,” Billeb said.
In Olmsted County, Minnesota, sheriff’s officials said tornadoes caused “multiple levels” of damage. At least 30 homes were damaged in Marion Township, with a number of those sustaining significant damage, according to officials who went door to door to check on residents.
Power outages affected thousands. According to utility data, more than 70,000 customers across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions were without power as of April 18, with Illinois and Missouri among the hardest hit.
The National Weather Service said the damage was likely caused by tornadoes and that surveys of affected areas would be conducted over the weekend. Officials in multiple states braced residents for a lengthy recovery process.
