HARRISBURG, Ill. (AP) - The National Weather Service has given the deadly tornado that leveled parts of the southern Illinois community of Harrisburg an EF-4 rating. EF-4 is the second-highest rating given to twisters. The rating is assigned to storms based on damage they cause.
Meteorologist Rick Shanklin said Wednesday that the storm was 200 yards wide with top winds up to 170 miles per hour. Harrisburg Police Chief Bob Smith has issued a curfew for the city, beginning at 6:00pm Wednesday evening, and lasting through 6:00am Thursday morning. He says an evacuation of the city has been completed. Smith warned against would-be looters, saying they will be prosecuted. Harrisburg Fire Chief Bill Summers says parts of the city are "like a war zone." Summers says rescue teams from many neighboring towns responded after the storm. The twister struck the city at 4:56am Wednesday. full story
