An Illinois resident whose home was destroyed by a tornado on Thursday was rescued from the debris by a police officer and a photojournalist, who recorded the storm and rescue in video. A storm chaser filmed the tornado striking Streator and later found the trapped man. A woman nearby called for help, and the chaser tried to free the victim before police arrived. The man’s condition remained unclear Friday, though he appeared injured. Local news reported extensive damage and interviewed residents who had little warning. The Streator tornado was part of several that hit Illinois and Indiana late Thursday amid high heat and humidity extending into northeastern states. One death occurred in Iowa when a falling tree struck a man. Hundreds of thousands lost power, with tornado warnings reaching Michigan. Over a thousand flights were canceled, mainly in Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York. Nearly 700 severe weather events, including about two dozen tornadoes, were recorded in the central US over three days, with storms forecast for eastern states. Severe damage occurred south of Chicago. In Merrillville, Indiana, a large wind column removed a high school roof. Streator established a family center after the storm. The mayor reported no deaths and praised emergency response. Flights were delayed in Chicago, Philadelphia and New York. High heat and humidity affected the northeast and mid-Atlantic. Earlier storms hit the Midwest on Wednesday. A man died in Des Moines, Iowa, after a tree fell during strong winds. A baseball game in Chicago was postponed. Thunderstorms moved into eastern states with wind damage reported. More storms were expected Friday from North Carolina to New York and New England, with temperatures in the mid-90s Fahrenheit feeling like 100 or higher. Additional severe weather was forecast for parts of the Midwest on Saturday. The events coincide with El Niño, which intensifies extreme weather and raises global temperatures. Officials said this El Niño could reach historic strength in the fall.
