Midwest tornado outbreak damages Indiana and Illinois communities, no deaths reported

An EF‑3 tornado struck Porter County in northwestern Indiana on Thursday, producing winds near 165 mph. The storm ripped roofs off homes, snapped trees and power lines, and left many residences unlivable. Although the damage was extensive, officials confirmed that no fatalities occurred.

Similar tornadoes hit towns in Indiana and Illinois, including Merrillville, Hebron, and Streator. Hundreds of structures suffered roof loss or destruction, power outages affected hundreds of thousands of customers and air traffic was disrupted. Emergency crews set up shelters, the American Red Cross opened a 700‑bed facility, and local authorities began emergency‑declaration processes to secure recovery funding. Cleanup teams and volunteers are working to clear debris, and power utilities say restoration could continue into next week. Minor injuries were treated at hospitals, but no life‑threatening injuries were reported.