By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Damage assessment and cleanup work is ongoing after a powerful storm ripped through the region Friday, uprooting trees, damaging buildings and leaving thousands without power.
Parts of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana had numerous wind gusts measured at 75 miles per hour and higher at the most severe parts of the storm, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service said some of the hardest-hit areas where in Boone County near Caledonia and Poplar Grove and in downtown Belvidere, where winds caused a roof collapse and ripped off the awning at the Apollo Theatre during a show by metal band Morbid Angel.
One person was killed and 28 others who were injured were taken from the scene by ambulance, Belvidere Fire Chief Shawn Schadle said on the scene Friday night. About 20 more people were taken to the hospital by private vehicles. There were about 260 people at the show.
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Audience members acted quickly to help peel the broken wreckage off others. Five of the 28 taken to the hospital suffered severe injuries, Schadle said. No first responders were injured. The department was able to respond almost immediately because it has a station just a few doors down from the theater on State Street.
“Chaos. Absolute chaos,” Belvidere Police Chief Shane Woody said, describing the scene when officers arrived. “When officers are first on the scene, when the fire department/first reponders get here, they do the best they can to control the chaos as much as possible.
“But ultimately we go in and ultimately try and find people and save as many people as we possibly can and bring them to safety as fast as we can.”
In Rockford, about 3,800 homes and businesses were still without power as of 8:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the city of Rockford.
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Numerous roadways are blocked by downed trees and power lines, and Spring Creek between Second Street and Alpine Road is closed. The city also advised motorists to avoid Highcrest Road due to significant damage.
The city of Rockford said its crews are out surveying the extent of the damage while ComEd works to restore power.
Yard debris drop off
The city of Rockford has opened a drop-off center for Rockford residents to put branches, tree limbs and other yard debris.
It’s located at the old Magna, 3915 E. State St., Rockford.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas