One killed near Ottawa as four tornadoes touch down

One person was killed by in a storm system that contained tornadoes wreaking havoc in towns along I-80 and south of it.

State Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Patti Thompson said the tornado victim was killed by an uprooted tree in South Ottawa Township in LaSalle County.

At least 14 people were taken to Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa for storm-related injuries, according to ABC 7 Chicago.

Multiple tornadoes were reported on the ground beginning shortly after 4 p.m., ABC 7 reported. The first was reported in LaSalle County near Standard, southwest of Ottawa, shortly after 4:30 p.m. A second tornado was spotted near Ottawa shortly afterward.

A third tornado was reported in Marseilles at 5:06 p.m. near North 30th Road and East 25th Road. A fourth tornado was reported on the ground near Morris shortly before 5:30 p.m.

More tornadoes were reported throughout the southern part of the state.

Pictures of tornado damage were seen in LaSalle Township, where the LaSalle Township Nursing Home appeared to be leveled in front of a water tower still standing. A woman answering the telephone at the nursing home said several residents reported bumps and bruises, but no serious injuries, according to The Associated Press.

"We got hit hard but everyone including residents and staff are safe and accounted for. Your prayers are greatly appreciated," the nursing home posted on Facebook. Early Wednesday morning, the nursing home reported on Facebook that all residents had been safely evacuated and relocated to nearby facilities.

O'Hare International Airport warned via Twitter of the severe weather, saying at one point more than 100 flights were canceled and delays exceeded 30 minutes; Midway also reported canceled flights and delays. Both airports suggest passengers confirm their flight status with the airlines.

ABC 7 Chicago Chief Meteorologist Jerry Taft said storms would taper off around 1 or 2 a.m.

Along with tornadoes, strong winds and golf-ball-sized hail passed through the area, and meteorologists warned of flooding.

Downed trees, broken windows, widespread power outages and gas leaks were reported by residents of Ottawa, ABC 7 reported.

Peggy Foltynewicz of Naplate was on her way home when the tornadoes hit. She told ABC 7 lightning hit electrical polls in her neighborhood, causing explosions like fireworks. And then she was trapped.

"I couldn't get in the garage because of the electricity, so I pulled alongside of the garage and then the wind started, and then the tornado started coming through. Debris everywhere. I took shelter between my car and my garage. The neighbors, all their stuff came over on my side and hit me, but that's OK. I'm alive. It just, um, it was scary. It was scary," she said.

Foltynewicz said she prayed to live as the tornado passed, then immediately took shelter inside.

"I hung onto my car, because it was still windy, but then the debris quit, and then the wind died down, and then it hailed, and then I got into the house and I went directly into the basement," she said.

Krystall O'Neil told ABC 7 she was leaving work when the tornado sirens started going off, so she went to her cousin's house, only two blocks from her own home on the south side of Ottawa because her cousin's home has a basement.

"It sounded like a train going through the house. ... I could heard things snapping," she said.

She said there is extensive damage in her neighborhood with many windows broken and trees down in streets, including trees blocking driveways. But she said nobody in her neighborhood appeared to have been injured.

Christine Carberry was on her way home with her 10-year-old son on the north side of Ottawa when the storm hit, she told ABC 7.

"The sky turned green and then all of a sudden the wind was brutal, to say the least, so as soon as we got to the house I grabbed my son and we ran and huddled in the bathroom," she said.

She said storms hit three times, with gaps of about 10 to 15 minutes in between.

"It sounded like absolutely chaos outside. It sounded like windows were being taken out. It felt like the house was shaking. It was the scariest thing I ever felt in my life," Carberry said.

There were also reports of hail anywhere from penny- to baseball-sized. Quarter-sized hail has been reported in Joliet and baseball-sized hail has been reported in Ottawa.

Gov. Bruce Rauner activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield to ensure personnel and equipment could be quickly deployed if needed to help local first responders after tornado touchdowns, according to a news release from the governor's office.

Tuesday's high temperatures approached the record of 62 degrees, ABC 7 said.

Wednesday's temperatures are a different story. They are expected to fall all day. Highs are expected to reach only the mid-40s, and snow is expected to develop around noon, ABC 7 said.

Some accumulation is expected, but most areas will only see less than an inch. Areas near the Wisconsin state line may see just over an inch of snow.