Andrew Pritchard, who goes by @skydrama on Twitter, captured this image of a tornado racing through Beardstown, Illinois, on Saturday.
Central Illinois is coping with damage and injuries after a
rare blitz of tornadoes Saturday, when 22 twisters were reported to the National Weather Service.Hardest hit was the town of Taylorville, about 30 miles southeast of the capital of Springfield. Storm winds wrecked houses, downed power lines and pulled trees up by the roots.
"It's a miracle no one was killed in the tragedy of these tornadoes," said Gov. Bruce Rauner, who toured the area on Sunday.
At least three people are being treated for major injuries at Memorial Hospital in Springfield and 18 more suffered minor injuries, Rauner said. The governor activated Illinois' State of Emergency Operations Center.
Rescuers pulled people from homes damaged by the twisters, Taylorville Fire Department Chief Mike Crews said. Otherwise, no deaths have been reported.
Illinois has an average of 47 tornadoes a year, not including December, which doesn't have an average, said CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar, speaking of the rarity of Saturday's twister cluster.
May is the peak month, with an average of 15 tornadoes.
