OTTAWA, Illinois — According to a statement from the Illinois State Police, Ottawa police say two men have died due to injuries they received during the severe weather.
A statement from the Peoria County Coroner says David Johnson, 31, had been working in the backyard with his spouse, Toby, and Toby's father, Wayne Tuntland, 76, when a tree was uprooted and landed on the three of them. Tuntland was pronounced dead at the scene. Johnson suffered severe head trauma and was taken to a hopsital in Ottawa before he was transferred to OSF Saint Frances in Peoria by helicopter.
He was pronounced dead just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Toby was treated and released from the hospital on Wednesday morning.
Recovery efforts
Illinois State Police is assisting the Ottawa Police Department with rescue and recovery efforts due to damage caused by the severe storms that passed through the area.
Ottawa police advice residents, displaced by storm damage to go to the Ottawa High School located at 211 East Main in Ottawa for help. The Red Cross will be responding with reunification efforts.
The Illinois State Police is currently working to establish a perimeter and assist with traffic control efforts. Ottawa police will conduct surveys of the damage and coordinate search and rescue efforts.
National Weather Service update
The National Weather Service says the tornado that roared through Ottawa, Illinois, and the small village of Naplate packed winds up to 155 mph.
The weather service rated Tuesday's tornado, which caused severe damage in Naplate and left one dead in Ottawa, an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
The weather service did not rule out the possibility that other tornados may have touched down in the area southwest of Chicago. Baseball sized hail was also observed in the area.
An EF-1 tornado was reported near the northern Illinois town of Oregon. Straight line winds of around 80 mph following the tornado caused additional damage.
In southern Illinois, an apparent twister of undetermined strength near the town of Crossville killed a 71-year-old man and injured his wife.