Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Froehlich; Harris; Statehouse Roundup; Capitol Capers (use all caps in password)
Next Post: Reader comments closed for the weekend
Posted in:
* 3:28 pm - Huge problem in the Carbondale area…
Authorities say winds that reached 100 mph and included possible tornadoes snapped trees and downed power lines in southern Illinois.
Carbondale Township Fire Capt. Mark Black says trees are down and siding from homes is strewn everywhere. He says his firefighters are cutting trees out of the roadway so they can get their trucks out.
My brother Devin lives near Carbondale and my mom just called to say his house is wrecked. He wasn’t home at the time, thank goodness. Neighbors have lost roofs and the roads are jammed.
* 3:33 pm - “My neighborhood is a disaster area,” Devin just said. “This is insane, man.” Part of his house, which is in Carterville, actually separated from the rest of his house. His house was surrounded by very tall trees and now they’re almost all gone.
Devin said he drove 45 miles home from a meeting and there were trees down and damage the entire way.
Rep. John Bradley was just on local radio and said he has already called the governor to seek assistance.
“Carbondale, Marion, everywhere, there’s no power,” Devin said.
* 3:38 pm - Two reported deaths in Missouri, but nothing yet in Illinois, thankfully…
A TV station in Carterville, Ill., has suffered damage to its roof and has gone off the air temporarily, KFVS reported on its Twitter feed.
Illinois State Police have reports of storm damage in seven counties. Police are reporting tornados in Jackson and Perry counties.
According to the National Weather Service, winds were blowing between 70 and 90 miles per hour in the area at midday Friday. And wind gusts near the southern Illinois community of Carbondale reached 100 miles per hour.
*** 3:51 pm *** Rep. John Bradley described the storm as a “hurricane.” His own house lost its roof and he’s out now with neighbors trying to clear the roads.
“We need state resources down here. It’s a disaster area,” Bradley told me. He said Gov. Quinn’s office is “on top of it, I think,” but he added, “We need help. There’s a lot of damage.”
Bradley also said he was sure the locals would accept any sort of assistance from central Illinois communities that can spare it.
* An official with Gov. Quinn’s office says they’re on top of things and are now working on an official disaster declaration. IEMA is coordinating with locals and the guv’s office has been in touch with Rep. Mike Bost as well as Bradley.
* 4:16 pm - More…
Carbondale Township Fire Capt. Mark Black said the “winds were just amazing. They were howling and the siding on the trailers was flying through the air and there was a pretty hard rain.”
Trees were down and siding from homes strewn about, he said. Firefighters had to clear trees off roads to get their trucks out. Black said he’s heard of some injuries but had no details. He said some people abandoned their cars and sought shelter in the fire station.
IEMA claims there have been no local requests yet for state resources, but they have dispatched people in the area to identify those needs. IEMA has pulled in people from various agencies, including IDOT, state police, CMS, etc. to the central emergency center.
* 4:35 pm - From Ameren…
Severe storms have left about 52,000 Southern Illinois Ameren Illinois Utilities customers without electrical service, while downed electrical wires and debris have created hazardous conditions. […]
The Ameren Illinois Utilities have activated their Emergency Operations Center, which is directing the service restoration work. AIU personnel are now assessing the damage to both high voltage lines and the electrical distribution system that brings power to homes and businesses. When this process is completed the Ameren Illinois Utilities will be able to determine estimated restoration times.
Ameren customers can check this website for more info.
* 4:41 pm - Injuries…
Health officials say a truck driver who had to be extricated from an overturned semitrailer was in serious condition at a [Carbondale-area] hospital.
Rosslynd Rice of Southern Illinois Healthcare says about six other patients with minor injuries were being treated at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
* 4:53 pm - I’m about to shut things down for the weekend, so here’s an automated news feed…
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 8, 09 @ 3:29 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Froehlich; Harris; Statehouse Roundup; Capitol Capers (use all caps in password)
Next Post: Reader comments closed for the weekend
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
It was a nasty storm—I was watching it on radar and went just south of where I am…. prayers are with them!
Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, May 8, 09 @ 3:31 pm
Even worse, SIU has graduation ceremonies tomorrow–traffic getting in will just add to the difficulties.
Comment by Segatari Friday, May 8, 09 @ 3:31 pm
A lot of people have been trapped in downtown Carbondale for most of the day — numerous downed phone poles are trapping cars.
One of my friends is helping a construction worker — a tree fell on him and broke two legs. Part of the roof of Lewis School is destroyed, don’t know where the kids were when that happened. It’s pretty bad down here.
(Not so bad in the scheme of things, but I lost a cherry tree and am sad…)
Comment by Shawnee Sue Friday, May 8, 09 @ 3:36 pm
It is very fortunate there were minimal injuries and so far no deaths reported. The damage to property is too bad but repairable. Glad your brother is safe. If you need me to take care of your boat this weekend, all you need do is ask. Bill, AA, and I will treat it well! LOL
Comment by A Citizen Friday, May 8, 09 @ 3:56 pm
Wow that sucks. When the tornados went through Springfield, it was bad. I feel for those folks.
Comment by How Ironic Friday, May 8, 09 @ 3:58 pm
Carbondale is a mess according to my friend who works on SIU campus. Can’t reach any Murphysboro friends but do know the Murphysboro Mayor has declared state of emergency and asked everyone to stay off the roads.
Comment by Born and Raised in SI Friday, May 8, 09 @ 3:58 pm
Channel 3 of Carbondale’s blog notes I-57 is/was shut down due to semis blown over and trees on the interstate…
Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, May 8, 09 @ 4:19 pm
My daughter lives on the SIU campus and says many, many windows in the dorms were blown out (including all of the windows on the top floor of her dorm). She described the scene on campus as ‘chaos’ after the storm. She said every tree in sight was damaged or down. She swears it was a tornado.
Comment by Dave Friday, May 8, 09 @ 4:33 pm
so, where’s the other part of his house?
Comment by bored now Friday, May 8, 09 @ 4:41 pm
In the back yard.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 8, 09 @ 4:42 pm
Sounds like another derecho. They had a couple in Minnesota in the 1990s, one of which downed more than 20 million trees in the Boundary Waters in the northeast of the state.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Friday, May 8, 09 @ 5:17 pm
I would agree to go for the weekend if I could be of any help. I am not sure if there is a need for a strong back and a weak mind though.
If there is a fund to contribute directly to for those impacted, please post it when you know it.
I had a very good week, so I don’t mind directing some of my own redistribution of wealth (meager as it might be). I find when left to my own devices I am more proficient t getting it directly where it needs to go than any government agency.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 8, 09 @ 5:21 pm
Radar loop… Scary. (looks like bands of a hurricane)
http://is.gd/xT1k
Comment by Anonymous Coward Friday, May 8, 09 @ 5:32 pm
Yes, this storm was indeed a “derecho,” — the name the Weather Service gives to violent straight-line wind storms, because it is the Spanish counterpart of the word “tornado” which indicates rotating winds. A derecho can be as destructive — even more destructive — than many tornadoes, since they affect larger areas than tornadoes..
Comment by Bookworm Friday, May 8, 09 @ 5:35 pm
A derecho with 100-mph winds is equal in strength to a Category 2 hurricane or EF-1 tornado.
Comment by Bookworm Friday, May 8, 09 @ 5:48 pm
rich, good luck to your brother. thank god he’s alright. thanks for letting us know so we can keep him and everyone else in our prayers.
Comment by Amy Friday, May 8, 09 @ 6:36 pm
[…] https://capitolfax.com/2009/05/08/this-just-in-209/ […]
Pingback by www.mmoclothing.com » Blog Archive » Devastating Carbondale Storm Saturday, May 9, 09 @ 3:05 am
The area looks like a war zone. We do need help. This is not going to be a qyick fix. Almost all of the power grid for Marion is severly damaged and may take day’s to get back on line.
Comment by Southern Illinois Saturday, May 9, 09 @ 6:12 am