Tornadoes Impact South Suburbs, Causing Significant Damage and Power Outages

The National Weather Service confirmed Tuesday evening the occurrence of multiple tornadoes in the south suburbs. An EF-1 tornado passed through Hazel Crest, Homewood, Country Club Hills, and Harvey Monday. Additionally, an EF-0 tornado hit Orland Park. These storms have brought the count of confirmed tornadoes to three, including a previously recognized EF-1 tornado in Lansing with peak winds nearing 110 mph.

Nakita Cloud, spokesperson for Hazel Crest, referred to the tornadoes as an ‘act of God,’ acknowledging the substantial damage compared to other storms. Power outages persisted in Hazel Crest Wednesday morning. Residents are urged to remain indoors due to numerous downed power lines. Cloud mentioned, ‘Until the lines are restored, getting all services back will be nearly impossible.’

Residents are advised to keep pets and children away from potentially live power lines intertwined with trees. Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld expressed concern over continuing power outages, stating that a large portion of the town remained without electricity, affecting operations at various facilities reliant on generators.

The tornado affecting Homewood and Hazel Crest had a complicated path, with final details still being assessed by the National Weather Service. Although Homewood sustained notable damage from fallen trees, direct wind damage to structures was less intense compared to Hazel Crest and Lansing.

Mayor Hofeld praised the community’s resilience and collaborative efforts during recovery, contrasting the widespread damage with a past tornado that impacted Homewood in 2024.

The village provided an online survey for residents to report home damages, open until August 5. The American Red Cross established a shelter at the Louis Sherman Community Center in Steger for those displaced by the storms. Over 100 individuals visited the center, which offered food, sleep, and charging stations.

Fay Kiaurakis, the center’s director, actively worked on relief efforts. As a former homeless child, she prioritized creating a supportive environment for displaced children, ensuring their experience felt more like a vacation.

The shelter plans to operate until at least Friday, pending further assessment of necessities by the Red Cross. Crete residents, Seldon Ledford and his wife, utilized the shelter to charge phones and receive meals after experiencing home flooding.

Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge confirmed most power restoration in his community but acknowledged ongoing outages affecting several hundred residents. He expressed gratitude that no injuries or fatalities occurred, emphasizing the severe impact on mature tree-laden areas.

Lansing faced significant damage around Oakwood Estates. Efforts focus on cleaning debris while aiming to restrict unnecessary usage of affected areas. Dennis Murrin, Lansing’s village preparedness coordinator, reflected on the severity of the storms compared to prior experiences.