Illinois suffered significant damage from a fatal derecho that passed through the Midwest earlier this week, including a famous museum in the Chicago suburbs.
There were two tornadoes in Joliet, which is home to the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66, as a result of winds that in some places reached over 100 mph.
The derecho caused an EF-1 tornado that caused significant damage to the museum, requiring it to temporarily suspend operations while cleanup efforts are made.
The CEO and creator of the museum, Ron Romero, expressed his sincere gratitude that nobody was hurt in the accident. The building across the street had its roof ripped off by the tornado, which then threw the pieces into the museum.
Romero reported with joy that the 24-foot guitar on the building’s front, known as “Gigantar,” had not been damaged at all. In addition, there was no damage done to any of the antiques or exhibitions.
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Romero has been refurbishing the building since he bought it in 2019. The second story’s construction has been put on hold because of the damage caused by the tornado, but the first floor is outfitted with displays and a gift shop. The roof leaked water onto the third level, which hasn’t been restored yet.
“It’s going to take some time,” Romero stated. “We’ll probably know better by next week when we’ll be able to open again.”
Two people in the area lost their lives as a result of the derecho. In Cedar Lake, Indiana, a tree collapsed on a house, killing one person, while in Elsah, Illinois, an elderly couple drowned in floodwaters while they were waiting for rescue.
