Law enforcement reported a tornado in Cameron, Illinois at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2015.
OSF Holy Family Medical Center was operating on generator power and were prepared to accept anyone injured by the storm. As of about 9 p.m., no storm victims had been taken there. A spokesperson at the hospital said most of Monmouth was without electricity.
A statement from the Illinois State Police after 11:30 p.m. said that there were no reported "significant injuries" to any residents.
"Currently there are numerous emergency service personnel and agencies on scene conducting search and rescue operations in the town," the statement from Illinois State Police said. "At the present time all gas and electric services have been shut off to the town for safety."
Police said they were not letting anyone get in to Cameron. They asked that the public "stay away" from the area so they didn't interfere with emergency operations.
On Friday morning, police confirmed that homes and buildings were searched and cleared. Emergency responders found no injured or trapped victims. They planned to conduct a second search Friday.
For the rest of the evening, United High School near Monmouth has been set up as a shelter for anyone displaced by the storm.
Warren County was hard-hit by storms Thursday evening; Monmouth authorities also reported storm damage there.
Ameren Illinois reported thousands of customers were without electricity in Monmouth and surrounding communities in Warren and Henderson counties.
A News 8 viewer shared a photo taken by Dewey Johnson of electrical poles that appeared to have been blown over in Cameron.
Motorists encountered closed roads as they arrived in Cameron. They were told they could not get to Church Street because of extensive damage and downed power lines. Access to Cameron was, essentially, shut down.
