FAIRDALE, Ill. — The two women killed by a devastating tornado system that barreled through northern Illinois shared a friendship, favors and, ultimately, a neighborhood that turned out to be ground zero for a twister that leveled much of their rural hamlet. Jacklyn Klosa, 69, was found Friday morning in the rubble of her Fairdale home, not far from where Geraldine Schultz, 67, died Thursday night when the tornado zeroed in on their neighborhood as it cut through the region about 80 miles west of Chicago, injuring more than a dozen and ripping buildings from their foundations.
At least two tornadoes touched down in the six-county vicinity. Most of the injuries weren’t considered serious. To the south in Ogle County, no one was injured although the tornado system caused severe damage to roughly 30 buildings in Rochelle and others in Flagg Township, said Sheriff Brian VanVickle — who lost his own home.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner declared both Ogle and DeKalb counties as disaster areas.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jamie Enderlen said at least one tornado touched down near Fairdale and was initially rated an EF4, meaning it was capable of producing winds up to 200 mph. Fairdale was the hardest hit, though the storm also collapsed buildings in surrounding towns.
All Fairdale homes were evacuated as a precaution and the electricity was out across the area. Trees, power lines and debris lay strewn on the ground, along with a sign welcoming people to town. Roofs from buildings were missing. Metal siding from barns was wrapped around trees.
