Illinois tornado outbreak: Governor JB Pritzker to visit Kankakee Co. as tornado damage cleanup continues
Share this @internewscast.com

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is set to join emergency teams in Kankakee County on Thursday. His visit comes in the wake of severe storms that have impacted the area.

Governor Pritzker will receive a detailed briefing from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency before personally inspecting the storm damage in Kankakee County.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Authorities are urging non-residents to steer clear of the impacted areas. This request is to ensure that emergency responders and utility crews have the space needed to carry out their work efficiently.

The region is currently dealing with widespread debris, including remnants of homes, downed power lines, and uprooted trees, making travel hazardous.

The Better Business Bureau is out with a warning about scammers preying on vulnerable people.

On Tuesday, winds reaching speeds of up to 115 miles per hour tore through Kankakee County, leaving a path of destruction in their wake.

RELATED: Kankakee County cleans up damage left by EF-3 tornado, record-breaking hail; several injured

Remarkably, a group of individuals survived the storm by taking refuge in a basement and later had to escape through a window well to reach safety.

“I can’t believe that we walked away. I mean, four adults, three kids, and four dogs. And I don’t think any of us even have a scratch on us. I don’t know,” Boerschig said. “I will never live somewhere again that doesn’t have a storm shelter or a basement. That’s the only thing. I mean, it saved our life.”

There’s been an overwhelming show of support for people impacted by the storm with a Red Cross shelter stationed at the Kankakee Community College.

Resources are also available at Grace Baptist Church, which will open at 8 a.m., according to their Facebook page, for people in need of food, water and other supplies for cleanup

Volunteers, local business and community organizations have been making sure food is available for neighbors, first responders and crews work to clean up and bring some semblance of normalcy to this devastated community.

School District 111 schools remain closed Thursday. Also the district is offering free breakfast, lunch and dinner. the meals are served at the Lincoln Cultural Center on Warren Avenue in Kankakee.

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
New York City Council Member Chi Ossé thrown to ground and arrested

Video Captures Arrest of NYC Councilman Chi Ossé During Eviction Protest, Allied with Mamdani

NYC Council Member Chi Ossé arrested in Brooklyn Footage has emerged showing…
Australian tourist trapped waist-deep in sewage after outback toilet collapses

Australian Traveler Rescued from Unusual Outback Toilet Mishap

In an unexpected and unpleasant twist during a family road trip through…
City manager 'begged' fired Cincinnati police chief for more officers on street as crime skyrocketed

City Manager Urgently Requested Additional Officers from Dismissed Cincinnati Police Chief Amid Rising Crime Rates

Cincinnati’s former police chief, Teresa Theetge, who previously faced a lawsuit from…
2026 NFL Draft: Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, whose mother Ashley Griggs died in Chicago shooting, drafted No. 4 overall

2026 NFL Draft: Ohio State’s Carnell Tate Honors Late Mother Ashley Griggs, Secures No. 4 Pick

In a significant moment for both the athlete and his supporters, Carnell…
Prosecutors seek 30-year prison term for South Korea's Yoon for drone flights over Pyongyang

Prosecutors Request 30-Year Sentence for South Korea’s Yoon Over Drone Operations in Pyongyang

On Friday, South Korean prosecutors called for a 30-year prison sentence for…
Denmark train collision injures 18 people

Train Accident in Denmark Leaves 18 Injured

COPENHAGEN — A head-on collision involving two local trains occurred north of…
Rep. Max Miller's divorce from Sen. Bernie Moreno's daughter gets ugly

Rep. Max Miller’s Divorce from Sen. Bernie Moreno’s Daughter Intensifies

WASHINGTON — Ohio Representative Max Miller is embroiled in a contentious custody…
Long Island cops unveil futuristic guns that could fire GPS darts during chases

Long Island Police Introduce High-Tech Guns Equipped with GPS Tracking Darts for Pursuit Operations

Sheriff’s deputies in Suffolk County are experimenting with innovative firearms designed to…
Distinguished ex-cop arrested for 'mass shooting' plot to gun down black people at New Orleans festival

Former High-Ranking Officer Detained in Alleged Plot Targeting New Orleans Festival Attendees

A former police officer from North Carolina, once recognized as “Officer of…
Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO, other steps over Iran rift

Pentagon Contemplates NATO Shake-Up: Spain’s Membership at Risk Amid Iran Dispute

An internal email from the Pentagon has unveiled potential strategies for the…
ICE nabs illegal aliens convicted of child sex crimes and meth trafficking in nationwide enforcement sweep

ICE Cracks Down: Nationwide Sweep Captures Convicted Child Predators and Meth Traffickers

In a concerted effort aligning with National Crime Victims Week, U.S. Immigration…
Downers Grove mother says son, student at Miami University, had over $4K frozen in Chase account for nearly 1 year

Chase Bank Freeze: Downers Grove Mom’s Battle to Recover Son’s $4K at Miami University

A troubling scenario has unfolded in Downers Grove, Illinois, where a local…