Rock Island Today

Illinois Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) took to Facebook to report on his travels through the state to examine the damage from storms on June 29, with visits to Roseville, Macomb, Bardolph and Bushnell to talk with community leaders and residents.

"The last couple of days, I have met some wonderful community leaders, Ameren employees and Emergency service personnel," he wrote in the July 2 post. "Starting Friday through Saturday my travels took me to Roseville, Macomb, Bardolph and Bushnell to assess damage and talk to city leaders or residents. Many thanks to the men and women at Ameren for working tirelessly restoring power. Through out Ameren’s territory, I understand over 1,200 power poles are destroyed. A big blessing though all the severe weather is I have not heard of any injuries. Things can be fixed and be replaced."

The National Weather Service reported that storms that hit southwest and central Illinois on June 29 were classified as a derecho, with significant hail and tornadoes. Storms began before sunrise and continued with supercell thunderstorms from Peoria to eastern Illinois. Tornadoes were confirmed in Sangamon County, Logan County, De Witt County and two in Christian County, the reports stated.

The first tornado to hit the state had an EF2 intensity and started near Curran Road and Spaulding Orchard Road in Sangamon County, according to NPR Illinois. Large sections were torn from the roof of one home near where the storm began, and winds peaked at 120 miles per hour, causing the storm to spread over nine miles. The second tornado, in Lincoln, was an EF1 and it had a top wind speed of 100 miles per hour. In Christian County, the first storm hit east of Sangchris Lake State Park. The second, with peak wind speed of 100 miles per hour, had a 10.39-mile path. Both registered EF1, NPR reported.

Fox Weather reported that semis were blown over as they traveled along I-55 by a storm as it blew through the area, and the Springfield Fire Department urged residents to remain in their homes.

The National Weather Service defines a derecho as “a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms." In order to be considered a derecho, the wind damage swath must be more than 240 miles and include wind gusts measuring at least 58 miles per hour.

Swanson is a retired lieutenant colonel with the Illinois Army National Guard and a businessman. He initially took office in January 2017, after having served on the Henry County Board, and the Alpha and Woodhull Board of Education, according to his official biography.