Upper Midwest tornadoes damage homes, knock out power across states

Tornadoes ripped across the Upper Midwest with enough force to destroy homes, scatter debris across roads and leave tens of thousands without power, but officials said the outbreak did not produce any reported deaths. The National Weather Service said at least 66 tornado reports were submitted across multiple states on Friday, as severe storms moved through Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In southern Minnesota, the recovery centered quickly on housing and shelter. In Marion Township, about 30 homes were damaged and a dozen had significant damage, according to the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office. The tornado also damaged at least 20 homes in Stewartville, and a temporary shelter opened in Rochester for displaced residents. "Tornado disaster recovery continues to occur at full speed," the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office said Saturday, as crews and residents began sorting through the wreckage.

Illinois faced a separate mix of damage, emergency declarations and power outages. McLean County officials declared a disaster emergency after severe storms hit Bloomington, saying, "At this time, no injuries have been reported, and emergency response agencies remain actively engaged to ensure public safety and continuity of essential services." Farther north in Lena, an EF-2 tornado caused the "most significant damage," with "many homes and outbuildings were damaged, trees uprooted, and power lines downed," the National Weather Service said. The Stephenson County Sheriff's Office said numerous roads were blocked by debris, and Chief Deputy Andy Schroeder said there were no fatalities and no reports of serious injuries.

The storm system also strained the power grid. More than 43,000 Illinois customers lost electricity, though ComEd said power had been restored to almost all of them by Saturday night. In Wisconsin, the National Weather Service office in La Crosse issued 26 tornado warnings on Friday, the most in a single day since the office opened in 1995. In one Marathon County town, Ringle Fire Chief Chris Kielman said a tornado destroyed 75 homes. "It took out a whole residential area," he said.

Officials in Wisconsin and Minnesota said the cleanup would stretch on, especially where repeated severe weather earlier in the week had already brought flooding to some communities. The American Red Cross of Wisconsin said volunteers were helping with meals, shelter and support, while sheriffs in heavily damaged areas went door to door to check on residents. As crews cleared blocked roads and emergency managers worked to confirm tornado tracks and ratings, the outbreak showed how quickly a weekend storm can turn into a long civic recovery.