Residents of Springfield believe a tornado touched down in their area late Wednesday. Two buildings at the Animal Protective League shelter in the capital city were heavily damaged, but the group's Executive Director Deana Corbin says none of the nearly 150 cats and 28 dogs housed there were injured.
“It pretty much wiped out our shelter facility, took the roofs off both of our buildings,” Corbin said. “It’s a miracle. We were so blessed to not have any injuries of either people or animals.”
The community pitched in to take in all the cats and dogs temporarily, including a local animal control center, veterinarians and residents, she said. Damage also was reported at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield.
Weather service meteorologist Frank Pereira said the system that produced the storms, including high winds and hail, was fueled by cool air from Canada clashing with warm, humid air from the South.
