Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Residents Assess Tornado Damage

As I walked through the Village of Jerome on the morning of March 13th, 2006 I found many small groups of residents gathering at various locations to survey tornado damage to their neighborhoods. The little group featured in the photograph above is standing at the corner of Corbin, and Vernon. One holds a camera, while the others look upon the destruction. Note the downed trees in the background. The pine tree to the right was sheared off as if cut by a giant pair of scissors.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - @ Corbin & Vernon - Evergreen

I saw many beautiful evergreen trees damaged, and destroyed by the tornado. Many looked like the perfect Christmas tree. I couldn't help but think that this evergreen would have cost hundreds of dollars if it had been purchased from a Christmas tree lot only three months earlier. What a waste of a beautiful evergreen tree.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Broken Power Pole Cross Beam

I thought of the photo above when I read in the State Journal Register that City Water Light, and Power had to purchase one thousand power pole cross beams to replace those broken by the tornado which stuck Jerome, and Springfield, Illinois. Many power lines were barely hanging from power poles, and many lay about the ground.

While I knew that the power lines were not electrified, I always feared that somehow I'd be the victim of a freak accident in which I managed to find the one downed power line which still had electricity running through it. Because of this lingering fear, I always avoided direct contact with these lines.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Broken Fence - Tornado Oddity

The owner of the property where I took this photo (corner of Corbin, and Jerome Ave) said he was lucky not to have had much damage - except to his fence which was partially destroyed. He showed me an oddity created by the high wind velocity of the tornado. A part of his fence became wedged between two fence slats. It was blown there at high velocity - a nail appears to have stopped it from travelling completely though.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Spring Trees Filled With Buds, And Insulation

Along Jerome Avenue I noticed that many trees were streaked with insulation from businesses on Wabash Avenue. Notice the horizontal streaks of insulation. The insulation isn't just hanging from the branches like it was thrown there, instead it is streaked in the branches as if it were blown there with great horizontal force. Streaks of insulation appeared in trees several blocks away, and appears to have been carried along with the tornado as it moved to the north east.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Grass, Shingles, Insulation & Safety Glass

Walking around Jerome, Illinois the morning after the March 12th, 2006 tornado demanded caution. A big concern which I had was stepping on a shingle with a roofing nail. There were roofing shingles everywhere, and many had nails sticking straight up. A misstep would have meant taking a trip to the hospital for a tetanus shot. The photograph above was taken of the ground on Jerome Avenue just behind the now closed Putt Putt miniture golf course.


Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street

Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Corbin Street Resident Surveys Tornado Damaged Trees.

At the corner of Corbin and Reed a homeower had already employed a landscaper to cut through a fallen tree which was blocking access to her garage, and truck This was at eight in the morning, and it was an impressive sight. Several other individuals were assisting in hauling away branches.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - A Workman Chain-Saws A Path Through Branches To Garage.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - Residents Haul Branches From Tornado Debris On Corbin.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - SBC Crew On Corbin Street Repair Tornado Damaged Lines.

Only a few yards south on Corbin several SBC trucks were on site cutting away downed trees, and repairing damaged telephone lines.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - SBC Worker Rides Within A "Cherry Picker" To Trim Branches.

While power lines were down, and these workers were not in danger of electrocution I still found their efforts impressive, and heroic. To find at such an early hour so many people working to restore power, and telephone service was a welcome sight.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois - SBC Works To Restore Telephone Service.

The photograph above is my favorite of the series, which is why I'm allocating so much space to it. SBC my hat is off to your fine workforce for helping to reconnect the Village of Jerome, Illinois to the outside world when we needed it the most!


Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue

Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

Walking west down Reed Avenue in Jerome, Illinois early on the morning of March 13th, 2006 I found that the street was blocked by several trees. The photograph above shows several trees felled by the tornado of the night before. A large pine tree is broken from its stump, and thrown across Reed Avenue. This was just down the road from the Jerome Civic Center, Jerome's Police Department Building. Something about the way the large pine appeared captured my interest. I noticed a similar end met a large pine on Glenn Avenue. Both pines had broken off from their stumps, while non-evergreen trees were tossed over from their roots.



Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

I find the photograph (above) of the pine tree's jagged stump filled with beauty. It wasn't a clean break. A definate struggle ocurred, until suddenly the tree was ripped from its base quite violently. That struggle may have only taken a second thus ending the life of a tree which had lasted decades. I suspect that pine trees, having a greater mass than other trees this time of year due to their pine needles, created this ripping effect. The tornado winds were in excess of 120 mile per hour.



Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

Once past the pine tree, looking west down Reed Avenue, I used my camera's zoom lens to bring the shot above a bit closer. There were more felled trees to investigate, and so onward I walked. In the background, beyond the trees is the Montvale Plaza commercial center.



Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

At the base of a hill I noticed something odd. The driver of an automobile had come up to the yellow "Do Not Cross" tape, and began honking his horn as if someone would simply move the trees to let him drive further into the Village of Jerome. What must he have been thinking?



Photo: Reed Avenue In Jerome, Illinois Blocked With Trees Felled From Tornado

The photo above doesn't actually do this site justice. The root structure was nearly orange, and contrasted with the black Illinois dirt. Once again, I found beauty in the death of these trees. I wasn't looking for it, but there it was anyway. This was a large old tree I used to pass nightly on my evening walks through Jerome. The tree had a slightly spooky look while living, and the roots look spooky in this photograph.


Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building

Photo: Tornado Tilted Flag Flying Over Jerome's Municipal Building 8:00 A.M. 03.13.06

Jerome Illinois' Municipal building was a hub of activity on the morning of March 13th, 2006. The Village of Jerome was struck by an F2 Tornado, and significant damage was done to many residences, and businesses throughout Jerome, Illinois.



Photo: Jerome, Illinois' Municipal Building Was Powerless But Undamaged By Tornado

Photographs included in this post were taken at aproximately 8:00 A.M. on the morning of March 13th, 2006. The entire Village of Jerome, much of Springfield, Illinois, and Leland Grove were without power at the time this photo was taken.



Photo: Not Bushes, But Fallen Trees Behind Jerome, Illinois' Police Headquarters

The third photo in this post shows a pickup truck with road construction barricades, and warning signs in its bed. The truck is parked in front of the Jerome Police Department's office building. Notice that what looks like shrubbery at the rear of either side of the building are in fact a very large pine trees felled by the tornado which struck the Village the night before.

Note the warning siren in the top photo? I credit this siren with helping to warn my family of the serious nature of the storm. The sound of warning sirens, the atypical "rolling thunder", and Gus Gordon's (WICS) tone of voice made it clear that the oncoming storm was no ordinary thunderstorm! No, this storm was an oncoming MesoCyclone spawning several tornados, and it wasn't breaking up, or running away just because Springfield, Illinois is in a valley.


Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Vernon & Filmore - Jerome, Illinois - March 13 2006 - 7:30 AM.

Despite the early hour I was amazed at the sites, and sounds of residents, and utility workers working hard to restore Jerome to its pre-tornado state. I don't believe anyone actually knew the full extent of the damage, nor just how long it would (and will) take to repair all the damage.

Still as we can see in the photo above someone had already placed a plastic tarp over this home's damaged roof, and this was very early in the morning. The sound of chain saws was non-stop, and coming from all directions - and would be an ever present reminder during the coming week of what had befallen the Village of Jerome, and Springfield, Illinois.



Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Vernon & Filmore - Jerome, Illinois - March 13 2006 - 7:30 AM.

Some homes were shut off from the rest of the world. However, the small house behind the pile of fallen trees could just as easily have been destroyed by the trees which fell across its driveway.



Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Vernon - Jerome, Illinois - March 13 2006 - 7:30 AM.

As I walked down Vernon I noticed that parts of business signs, and structures from Wabash were littered about. Vernon is two blocks north of Wabash. The sign pictured above may not be impressive, but I believe that the door pictured below had been carried over from Wabash. Notice how the door looks as if it had been warped? It looks like it was sucked right out of it's frame.



Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Vernon - Jerome, Illinois - March 13 2006

At over 120 miles per hour this door would certainly have injured, or killed anyone it fell on - luckily it just fell into someone's front yard on Vernon Avenue in Jerome, Illinois.


Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street

Photo: Tornado Aftermath: South View Of Fillmore @ Glenn



Photo: Barbara Court & Fillmore - Jerome, Illinois Tornado - March 13, 2006 - 7:20 A.M.



Photo: Reed & Fillmore - Jerome, Illinois Tornado - March 13, 2006 7:25 A.M.



Photo: Reed & Fillmore - Jerome, Illinois Tornado - March 13, 2006 7:25 A.M.

The red minivan in the two photographs above, which also appeared in the Illinois Times, is owned by a friend. I was not just saddened by the sight of the damage to the minivan, but even more so by the damage to several trees. The home was spared, so it could have been worse.



Photo: Alberta Lane & Fillmore - Jerome, Illinois Tornado - March 13, 2006 7:25 A.M.

This little garage didn't stand much chance against the trees that blew into it.

I'll revisit Fillmore a little later. The next post will feature Vernon.


Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant

Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue

Photo: Tornado Aftermath - Jerome, Illinois 03.13.06 7:00 A.M. Glenn Ave.

Tornado related images included in this post were captured at aproximately 7:00 A.M. in Jerome, Illinois on the morning of March 13th, 2006. Two large trees blocked the Glenn street, and one tree fell into a residence. All downed trees pictured were located upon a hilltop falling halfway betwen Park Street, and Fillmore.



Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Glenn Avenue - Jerome, Illinois - March 13th 2006

The tree which crashed onto the house in the photograph above appears not only to have fallen upon the roof, but it also appears to have been lifted, and shoved down upon the roof. I was left with the impression many times on the morning of March 12th, 2006 that the twister which had visited Jerome, Illinois had not only bulldozed whatever it encountered, but actually vacuumed up whatever crossed its path.



Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Glenn Avenue - Jerome, Illinois - March 13th 2006

This small group of residence congregate over a tree which had fallen across Glenn Avenue. One neighbor said jokingly to another, "You stay on your side of the tree, and we'll stay on our side", roughly parodying "Good fences make good neighbors".



Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Glenn Avenue - Jerome, Illinois - March 13th 2006

The clean smell of fresh cut evergreen filled the air. I felt conflicted, because I love that smell, and it reminds me of Christmas, yet I knew that in the present situation it was a result of a tornado. The photo above shows the power of the tornado which snapped this tree like a twig.



Photo: Tornado Aftermath: Glenn Avenue - Jerome, Illinois - March 13th, 2006

This particular section of Glenn is atop a knoll. The trees atop the knoll were especially hard hit. Nearby Owens Lane, running within an east-west depression, faired much better. Looking at Owens Lane, and then looking back at Glenn Avenue gave me an appreciation of what being just ten to fifteen lower in elevation meant. Lower meant safer. Unfortuately, the trees along Glenn Avenue had no choice but to stand tall, and take it like a tree.


Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash Avenue I
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Wabash & Chatham
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - W. Jerome Ave
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin & Jerome
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Corbin Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Reed Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Jerome Municipal Building
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Vernon Avenue
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Fillmore Street
Jerome, Illinois' 2006 Tornado - Glenn Avenue
Lauterbach Tire & Auto's Headless Giant