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WASHINGTON — The National Weather Service in Lincoln issued its preliminary categorization of the tornado that tore through central Illinois Sunday — an EF-4.A damage estimate team surveyed the Washington area before nightfall Sunday to reach that determination, examining the areas most affected by the tornado particularly the subdivision west of Washington Square.The team found damage consistent to wind speeds between 170-190 miles per hour, [...]

WASHINGTON -- Where a tornado stripped trees and leveled buildings

WASHINGTON - At least 400 dwellings here were destroyed by Sunday's tornado, U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock said Monday.More houses sustained undetermined damage, the Illinois Republican said as he surveyed the west edge of the city. Schock said that he expected FEMA to arrive to assess damage in the next day or so to estimate available relief funds. He said cleanup could begin this week.Still, long-term rehabilitation loomed as daunting, he said."How do [...]

By Monday morning, area hospitals had reported seeing at least 70 storm victims.

Washington's Devonshire subdivision was Ground Zero for Sunday's tornado. That's where I live.I had taken the TV warnings to "seek cover immediately" seriously enough to go back and forth between the basement and the first floor, but was at my front door with camera in hand when I saw that ominous black funnel cloud rise over a home at the end of the street, sucking debris up into its vortex, swallowing homes like they were made of toothpicks, coming right for us.

New playground equipment to be installed at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Peoria is to have a fire-department theme.Perhaps the gear could douse what appears to be a smouldering dispute between some City Council members and the Peoria Park District.The council members are displeased the Park District didn't contribute $600,000 to cover two-thirds of the cost of a proposed addition to the John Gwynn Family Aquatic Center. The city, courtesy of the fund for [...]

PEORIA — Spring is traditionally tornado season in Illinois, [...]

WASHINGTON — Local centers, schools, churches and the Red Cross coordinated aid efforts for victims of the tornado that ripped through town Sunday morning.Five Points Washington served as a transit point for victims, family and friends wanting to help. It couldn't be used as an overnight shelter because the center didn't have electricity, according to officials.People were shipped to Washington Community [...]

WASHINGTON – Ten firefighters with the 182nd Illinois Air National Guard helped to search the devastated Washington community for people who might have been trapped in a home or building.Col. William "Robbie" Robertson, the 182nd's commander, said the firefighters deployed initially to help with immediate search and rescue efforts not long after a tornado leveled dozens of homes about 11:05 a.m."Our firefighters are fully trained in search and rescue [...]

PEKIN — Chainsaws and tree trimmers hummed and buzzed Sunday afternoon as cleanup efforts began in the wake of a tornado that struck Pekin earlier.The funnel cloud touched down about 10:55 a.m., cutting a path of destruction from the 300 block of Sheridan Road, past Eighth Street and across Crescent Street. Police and fire officials at the scene said no one was killed and injuries were limited to minor scrapes and abrasions.Sara Sparkman, a spokeswoman [...]