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* SJ-R…
A cleanup effort expected to last months began Sunday after one or more tornadoes producing winds of at least 120 mph hit the Taylorville area Saturday night, damaging more than 500 homes and injuring 26 people — two of them critically.
No one has died because of the storm that cut through this Christian County community of 11,000 people, on its way from the St. Louis area and through parts of Christian, Macoupin, Montgomery and McLean counties.
But thousands of people in the Taylorville area woke up to see the full extent of devastation visited upon their neighborhoods on a dreary, overcast Sunday. Several of them said the shock and stress caused by the rare late-fall tornadoes on an unusually warm Saturday afternoon — in the 50s and 60s — may last longer than the cleanup. […]
The storm broke more than 100 power poles, Ameren spokesman Tucker Kennedy said.
More than 300 total structures were assessed. According to Joe Gasparich, assistant emergency management director of Montgomery County, fifty-three of those showed major damage, 29 were destroyed, and 219 were damaged but inhabitable
* H&R…
[Christian County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Crews] said help had poured into Taylorville for both initial search and rescue for people trapped and injured and for the aftermath and cleanup. Fire departments from Assumption, Edinburg, Midland, Moweaqua, Mount Auburn, Morrisonville, Owaneco, Pana and Nokomis had lent a hand.
Other help came from many and varied organizations including “Team Rubicon,” which is what Crews described as a veteran-led disaster response organization. And Crews said the Southern Baptist Response Team and the Lutheran Ministries Early Response team had also arrived to help, along with many state and local resources.
Taylorville Police Chief, Brian Hile, said Sunday evening that the offers of help had been so overwhelming some had to be turned away “because we had more than we could handle.”
He said the clean-up and repair crews heroic efforts had transformed the chaotic scene of destruction that he had seen at first light Sunday morning.
* BND…
[Jared Maples of the National Weather Service] said the tornadoes [in Taylorville] reached speeds of up to 86 mph.
“In general, it there were brief tornadoes and cycling that would pick up and drop again elsewhere and it did that repeatedly,” Maples said. “Unfortunately those came together at the right time to direcly impact Taylorville.”
The National Weather Service says peak months for tornadoes in much of the Midwest are April and June.
* ABC 7…
Twenty two twisters were reported in Illinois on Saturday, possibly making it the greatest December tornado outbreak in Illinois history
If that 22 number holds up, it will break the record of 21 Illinois twisters over two days in 1957.
* One way you can help…
The local food pantry's handle on Venmo is @TaylorvilleFoodPantry. https://t.co/49Gkrt6JNX
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) December 3, 2018
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 10:31 am
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That came out of nowhere. I can’t recall twisters in December before.
The temps are going to remain around freezing all week. Please check on your old-timers.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 10:38 am
Thank s be to the Lord, no one was killed. Apparently there were two tornadoes which hit Taylorville without much warning. The area recorded several, most of which stayed in rural areas. The area TV weather people did a real good job of keeping people informed; however, if you got hit by one, that made very little difference.
Comment by OldDutch Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 10:51 am
Taylorville is my hometown. While I’m extremely thankful that my family was not impacted by the tornado I cannot begin to describe the devastation here. Please pray for my hometown and especially for those who lost everything. We are gathering clothing etc this morning. Warm coats are a priority. Any help is appreciated. So many are homeless it is difficult to know where to start.
Comment by Kathy Drea Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 10:52 am
Kathy can you please let us know how we can help and the best way to make sure those impacted get the help they need?
Thanks
Comment by Randy Wells Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 10:57 am
That super cell continued northeast until it finally fizzled out north of LeRoy and Colfax. Around the Maroa area, it appeared to have lessened in strength, only to appear re-strengthened once it cleared the Radford Run wind complex. It also did the same near the wind complex near Ellsworth.
As someone who sat this outbreak out in the basement following the sirens going off (and watching WICS kind of play down what was happening in Macon and DeWitt counties because of the radar returns), I’m more than a bit concerned about the impact of siting wind complexes near NWS radar installations. To WICS credit, once they finally saw the velocity return past Maroa, they did come back saying, there may be a tornado there! They even mentioned Chris Miller from the Lincoln NWS station who had told them that false returns could show up due to wind complexes. BTW, there was a large shed completely destroyed very near the Maroa Radford Run wind complex.
Early warnings in these weather situation save lives. The NWS should be able to play more than just an advisory role in siting these industrial wind farms. And, local siting authorities should take note of what happened Saturday in providing protections through strong ordinances if there are no Federal or State regulations in effect.
http://www.news9.com/story/39309620/9-investigates-wind-farms-and-radar-interference
https://www.roc.noaa.gov/WSR88D/WindFarm/TurbinesImpactOn.aspx
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 10:59 am
so sorry for the suffering of these people. it is not just physical damage to persons and property, but terror from the incident and the aftermath. things may just be things, but loss hits people in different ways. peace and safety.
Comment by amalia Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 11:04 am
Randy - I’m checking into specifics now.
Comment by Kathy Drea Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 11:05 am
Volunteers who wish to contribute to the recovery are urged to contact the Red Cross at 661-992-6031.
Any family member needing to make contact with family related to the storm is urged
to call the Red Cross reunification number at 844-319-6560.
Any resident needing shelter can to go the Crossroads Apostolic Church at 212 Jaycee
Drive in Taylorville.
If you would like to make an online monetary donation to Red Cross relief efforts, please go to redcross.org. Enter your local zip code for information on how to donate or volunteer locally to assist the tornado victims in Taylorville.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 11:06 am
So sorry to see so much devastation. Praying for that beleaguered town.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 11:14 am
Best wishes to all who are suffering and have experienced devastating losses.
Events like this force us to face the fierce urgency of addressing global warming and the dire consequences of such severe weather disruptions. Sadly for the planet, our children and grandchildren, one major political party prefers to keep its collective head in the sand and is led by a global warming denier. I believe that was among a multitude of factors that contributed to the GOP’s historic losses on 11/6.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 11:17 am
Taylorville Food Pantry is accepting donations. They need personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo,soap, etc. Baby items needed such as formula, diapers, baby clothes, blankets etc. They are accepting clothes, and linens as well. Warm coats are needed immediately. You can make an online monetary donation at their Facebook page. These items will absolutely go directly to the people who need them in Taylorville.
Comment by Kathy Drea Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 12:00 pm
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181203/latest-from-taylorville-how-to-help-night-curfew-to-remain-in-effect
According to this article, they are asking for monetary donations only.
Comment by L.A. Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 12:11 pm
10:59 am was me.
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 12:13 pm
I was just at the Taylorville Food Pantry and was given the info above. They are accepting items other than money.
Comment by Kathy Drea Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 12:22 pm
Thanks Kathy
Comment by Randy Wells Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Prayers for Taylorville
Comment by downstate hack Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 1:03 pm
Taylorville Food Pantry
1 hr ·
(UPDATE - NO CLOTHES AT THIS TIME PLEASE)
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:
Food donations should be taken to 1617 W Spresser (old Budweiser/Gagne Distributing building).
Baby items should be taken to 500 N Walnut - Loving Arms.
Clothing should be taken to 505 W Springfield - Shadow Box.
No additional pet food is needed at this time.
In terms of monetary donations, we will continue to accept via our Venmo. This money will go towards food for the disaster. If you would like your money to go towards building repairs and such, donations should be sent to Missions for Taylorville, c/o: City Hall, 115 N Main.
If you need food assistance, please call 217-454-6105 OR 217-820-5174.
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!
We are falling back to our normal hours for distributions:
Tuesday: 8:30am-10am
Thursday: 5:30pm-7pm
Saturday: 8:30-9:30am
Comment by Tom Threat Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 3:56 pm
When I called, the Red Cross recommended checking the “Christian County Severe Weather and Disaster Recovery” Facebook page for the latest information on volunteer efforts, donation drives and other information.
Comment by Tom Threat Monday, Dec 3, 18 @ 3:59 pm