Washington Named Locales Hit Hard By Tornadoes

A lone bell symbolizes the damage of the EF4 tornado in New Minden.

After so much news along the old Route 66, are we surprised to see where these tornadoes struck?

The town of Washington and New Minden, Washington County, in two parts of the State of Illinois, were deeply involved in the tornado strikes on Sunday, November 17, 2013.

The Washington County Coroner’s Office in southern Illinois has confirmed two deaths attributed Sunday’s EF4 tornado that touched down in the New Minden area.

Joseph R. Hoy, 80 and his sister Frances J. Hoy were killed Sunday as a result of a tornado that touched down in the New Minden, Illinois area. The Hoy’s lived on a farm in the 14000 block of Eagle Road that was completely destroyed.

Josephs Hoy died from massive head trauma, he was located in a field about 100 yards from his home. His sister Frances died at the Washington County Hospital, from injuries suffered from the tornado.

Meanwhile, southwest of Chicago, the town of Coal City was hit by a confirmed EF2 tornado, determined after an initial NWS survey of the area.

One death was also reported in Brookport, in Massac County, Illinois, according to Charles Taylor, deputy director, Massac County Emergency Management. Taylor added the town was heavily damaged and numerous injuries have been reported.

The town of Washington, in Tazewell County, Illinois, appeared particularly hard-hit, with one resident saying his neighborhood was wiped out in a matter of seconds by a tornado.