FAIRDALE, Illinois — The two women killed by a devastating tornado system that barreled through the central state of 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 on Friday morning in the rubble of her Fairdale home, not far from where Geraldine Schultz, 67, died on Thursday night when the tornado zeroed in on their neighborhood as it cut through the region west of Chicago, injuring more than a dozen and ripping buildings from their foundations. The county coroner said Klosa, who had no basement, was found hiding in her shower, clutching her purse. Klosa “was just one of the most friendly people in the world, a wonderful mother and a wonderful friend,” said Les Bellah, mayor of neighboring Kirkland, recalling the “big ol' hug” he got from her recently but also how she'd “let you know” if she was upset with you. “You never had to wonder what she was thinking.” At least two tornadoes touched down in the six-county vicinity. Most of the injuries weren't considered serious. “We are very blessed that more people were not hurt. This was a devastating storm,” Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said in the town of Flagg after touring the damage. 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 (320 kph). Damage survey teams were working Friday to officially determine how long tornadoes stayed on the ground, their strength and extent of the damage. Meteorologist Matt Friedlein said the storms and cold front headed northeast, dumping snow in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and sweeping across the Ohio Valley overnight. In Illinois, Fairdale was the hardest hit, though the storm also collapsed buildings in surrounding towns, including a restaurant in Roselle from which a dozen people had to be dug out of a storm cellar. Fairdale has no village government, no school, no cable TV and no major businesses. Some residents kept horses in town; one family found one of its horses dead amid the debris Friday afternoon. 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. Crews spent on Thursday night and Friday going through the wreckage looking for missing residents, but authorities expressed confidence by the afternoon that they'd accounted for everyone. — AP
