NW Illinois News

Illinois state Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) took to social media to report on his travels through the state to examine the damage from storms that hit on June 29. He visited Roseville, Macomb, Bardolph and Bushnell to talk with community leaders and residents.

"The last couple of days, I have met some wonderful community leaders, Ameren employees and Emergency service personnel," he said in a July 2 Facebook post. "Starting Friday through Saturday my travels took me to Roseville, Macomb, Bardolph and Bushnell to assess damage and talk to City leaders or residents. Many thanks to the men and women at Ameren for working tirelessly restoring power. Through out Ameren’s territory I understand over 1200 power poles are destroyed. A big blessing though all the severe weather is I have not heard of any injuries. Things can be fixed and be replaced."

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that storms that hit southwest and central Illinois on June 29 were classified as a derecho, with significant hail and tornadoes. Storms began before sunrise and continued with supercell thunderstorms from Peoria to eastern Illinois. Tornadoes were confirmed in Sangamon, Logan and De Witt counties, as well as two in Christian County.

The first tornado to hit the state had an EF2 intensity and started near Curran Road and Spaulding Orchard Road in Sangamon County, according to NPR Illinois. Large sections were torn from the roof of one home near where the storm began, and winds peaked at 120 miles per hour, causing the storm to spread over nine miles. The second tornado, in Lincoln, was an EF1 and had a top wind speed of 100 miles per hour. In Christian County, the first storm hit east of Sangchris Lake State Park. The second, with a peak wind speed of 100 miles per hour, had a 10.39-mile path. Both of those registered EF1.

FOX Weather reported that semis were blown over as they traveled along I-55 by a storm as it blew through the area, and the Springfield Fire Department urged residents to remain in their homes.

The NWS defines a derecho as "a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms." In order to be considered a derecho, the wind damage swath must be more than 240 miles and include wind gusts measuring at least 58 miles per hour.

Swanson, who represents Illinois’ 71st House District, is a retired lieutenant colonel with the Illinois Army National Guard and a businessman, his website biography said. He initially took office in January 2017, after having served on the Henry County Board and the AlWood (Alpha and Woodhull) Board of Education.