An impactful tornado moved through northern Effingham County on Wednesday evening, traveling an estimated 12 to 15 miles and leaving behind damage across multiple communities.
Officials say there are reports of injuries, but at this time, there are no reports of serious injuries or fatalities. The tornado caused extensive damage to multiple residences, businesses, and farms throughout the area. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, and officials say a complete report will be put together during daylight hours.
The first reports of damage came in around 8 PM near Beecher City in the northwest corner of Effingham County. The tornado continued moving east-southeast, with the worst damage reported along a path stretching from west of Shumway to south of Montrose.
Emergency response crews are currently working to assess the damage and assist those impacted. Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns is asking the public to avoid affected areas to allow emergency personnel to safely complete their work. Officials are also warning residents to use extreme caution while traveling, as debris, downed power lines, and other hazards may still be present.
Effingham County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Pam Jacobs released a statement saying they have received reports of injuries but no fatalities. Jacobs also says they had received reports of damaged houses and buildings along the path of the tornado. Jacobs states she is grateful for all of the first responders and emergency crews for their quick response times and strong cleanup efforts following the storm.
Recovery efforts are expected to continue over the coming days, with additional updates to be released as more information becomes available. To get those updates as they are released, keep following taylorvilledailynews.com.
Residents are also encouraged to continue monitoring updates from the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency on its website,
effinghamcountyil.gov/emergency-management, or the official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/EffinghamCountyEMA, for the latest information on recovery efforts and ongoing assessments.
