Tornado Damage Assessment Flight

By 2nd Lt. Marc Stanley, Palwaukee Composite Squadron, CAP

Digital Images By Maj. Bob Williams, Commander Group 22, CAP

On January 7, 2008 a tornado touched ground near Poplar Grove, IL at approximately 3:20 PM and followed a track 50-100 yards wide and 13 miles long towards Harvard. Over a period of around 20 minutes, several people were injured and significant property damage resulted in the affected area.  Palwaukee Squadron flew a sortie in order to assist the National Weather Service to determine the severity and extent of damage caused by this storm. Lt. Col. Lou Wipotnik piloted the aircraft and Major Bob Williams served as photographer.  Also aboard was Jim Allsop, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The images below clearly illustrate the destructive energy of this EF3 class storm whose winds may have reached speeds of up to 165 mph.

 

                                  Damaged home and derailed train at Lawrence.

Destroyed house near intersection of Beaverton and Centerville Roads.

                                 Edwards apple orchard near intersection of Beaverton and Centerville Roads.

    

Derailed rolling stock blown from the tracks.