Residents in parts of Illinois scrambled for safety Thursday evening after multiple large tornadoes touched down across the state, leaving behind significant damage, triggering rescue efforts and forcing road closures as authorities assessed the destruction.

The most severe impact was reported in Streator, where officials said homes and structures on the city's south side sustained heavy damage, according to NBC Chicago. Illinois State Police confirmed that emergency crews had launched cleanup and rescue operations, while a key route into the community, Illinois Route 18, was shut down to allow first responders to work safely.

Families displaced by the storms and those separated from loved ones have been instructed to report to Streator City Hall, which has been designated as a reunification point.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said a tornado was moving through southern and southeastern sections of Streator at around 5:52 p.m., warning residents to seek shelter immediately as dangerous conditions unfolded. Meteorologists later detected debris signatures on Doppler radar, a sign often associated with tornado-related destruction, as the storm tracked through the area.

As emergency crews responded in Streator, another tornado was reported near Dwight shortly after 6:15 p.m. The NWS subsequently issued tornado warnings covering portions of Grundy and Kankakee counties, urging residents to remain in protected locations until the threat passed.

The severe weather outbreak extended beyond Illinois. Several tornado touchdowns were also reported across northwest Indiana, where communities including Kouts and Hebron experienced storm damage amid an intense evening of volatile weather across the region.

Earlier in the day, Wisconsin also saw tornado activity. Officials reported a brief tornado touchdown in Kenosha County, although there were no immediate indications of significant damage.

Authorities continue to assess the extent of the destruction in the affected areas, and residents are being advised to avoid damaged zones and monitor official weather updates.