Kankakee County cleans up after 2 tornadoes, record-breaking hail

Several injured as storms leave extensive damage, power outages in Illinois and Indiana

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:19pm

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Residents in Kankakee County, Illinois and nearby areas in Indiana were left to clean up extensive damage after a supercell spawned at least four tornadoes and produced record-breaking hail on Tuesday. Nine people were injured, and two died in Indiana, as the storms caused significant damage to homes, businesses, and schools. Power outages affected thousands of customers, and an emergency declaration was filed to get state assistance for recovery efforts.

Why it matters

The severe weather outbreak in Kankakee County highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events driven by climate change. Large hail and tornadoes can cause widespread destruction, disrupt communities, and strain local resources, underscoring the need for proactive disaster preparedness and resilience planning.

The details

The storms produced at least four tornadoes that impacted Pontiac and areas south of Kankakee in Illinois, as well as Lake Village and Wheatfield in Indiana. Significant damage was reported, including to the Bishop McNamara Catholic School in Kankakee. In addition, record-breaking hail up to 6 inches in diameter fell, causing extensive damage to homes, vehicles, and other property. Power outages affected thousands of customers, and an emergency declaration was filed to secure state assistance for recovery efforts.

  • The storms struck Kankakee County and surrounding areas on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.
  • NWS teams surveyed the damage on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Kankakee County

A county in Illinois that was heavily impacted by the severe weather outbreak, with significant damage to homes, businesses, and schools.

Bishop McNamara Catholic School

A school in Kankakee that sustained significant damage from the storms, leading to its closure on Wednesday.

Chicago's Anti-Cruelty Downtown Adoption Center

An organization that welcomed six dogs from the Kankakee County Animal Control to help create space in their shelter after the storms.

Jason Kent

A resident of Aroma Park, Illinois who described the harrowing experience of braving the tornado that tore through the area.

Kim Green

A resident whose father's home in Aroma Park was one of the hardest hit, with a significant portion of the roof missing.

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What they’re saying

“As soon as I got down in the crawlspace, we heard like bombs going off. It sounded like bombs. You heard like the hail, gumball sized hail, even bigger than that, and then you just heard all the cracking and crashing.”

— Jason Kent, Aroma Park resident

“We could see the swirling in the sky. We were, 'Like this is going to turn into something.' After that the hail started.”

— Kim Green, Aroma Park resident

What’s next

Kankakee County has filed an emergency declaration with the state to request assistance for recovery efforts, and the American Red Cross has set up a shelter at Kankakee Community College for those impacted by the storms. Power restoration is expected to take several days.

The takeaway

The severe weather outbreak in Kankakee County serves as a stark reminder of the increasing threat posed by extreme weather events driven by climate change. As communities face more frequent and intense storms, the need for proactive disaster preparedness and resilience planning becomes increasingly crucial to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure.