Severe Weather Brings Tornadoes To Midwest

Severe Weather Brings Tornadoes To Midwest

Article Found on The Weather Channel (link in heading)

Dangerous storms hammered the Midwest on Thursday, spawning at least one destructive tornado that tore through northern Illinois and killed two people.

The Illinois towns of Fairdale, Rochelle and Kirkland sustained major damage from a massive twister that reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble. Several people were injured, and 67-year-old Geraldine M. Schultz was killed inside her Fairdale home Thursday night. 

A massive tornado pushed through northern Illinois Thursday evening, causing extensive damage and killing at least two. The Illinois Office of Emergency Management told The Weather Channel the first confirmed fatality, a 67-year-old woman named Geradine M. Schultz, occurred in Fairdale.

The second fatality was confirmed by Gov. Bruce Rauner Friday and DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller said the second victim was identified as 69-year-old Jacqueline Klosa, who lived next door to Schultz.

Miller said Klosa was found in a bathroom around 10 a.m. Friday by rescue workers, NBC Chicago reported. She had last spoken to her sister, telling her she was going into the shower. 

Fairdale, an unincorporated town of about 200 residents some 80 miles northwest of Chicago, is comprised of approximately 50 structures, and Rockford Fire Department division chief Matthew Knott told The Chicago Tribune that every one of the town's homes was damaged. He also noted that 17 structures were destroyed by the twister that hit the town at about 7:15 p.m., and at least seven people were injured. One of the injured is listed as in critical condition. Authorities said Fairdale does not have outdoor warning sirens.