More than 40 homes in Salem were damaged and some destroyed when a tornado moved over the Lake Street area from Franklin to Marion Streets.
Some of the most severely damaged were on South Washington Street behind Midwest BBQ.
Jake Brandon lived in one of those homes.
“Sounded like a train coming at our house. By the time we ran and got into the closet and it really just sounded like a wall of water hit my house, but I stepped outside and saw all the businesses and houses around me, it was kind of surreal.”
Brandon says he was able to grab the kids and run into a closet when he heard the storm coming. He reports the response that followed helped restore his faith in mankind.
“Everybody that showed up was amazing. My neighbors porch was collapsed and no way he was getting out that door, but I bet I saw 5 police officers, 8 fire and everybody went and checked on everybody. All of us went house to house, then the firefighters came through then the police officers.”
Salem Police Chief Kyle Ambuehl says 14 police officers responded to help in the search. Fire Chief James Cerny said they were joined by 29 firemen. Several employees of the Public Works Department and Emergency Management Agency also assisted in the hard hit area.
Salem Mayor Nic Farley said the city also drew mutual aid from the Centralia Police Department, Jefferson County, and Wayne City.
The Centralia Police Department has provided two officers on the evening shifts through the weekend to provide added patrols in the storm damaged area.
Ameren Illinois had to replace 15 poles that were broken during the storm. They finished restoring power at six Saturday night.
