PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
904 PM CST THU MAR 1 2012

...HARRISBURG TORNADO UPDATE...

THE FOLLOWING IS THE EXPECTED FINAL NWS DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FOR THE
FEBRUARY 29 HARRISBURG ILLINOIS TORNADO.

* EVENT DATE - WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 29 2012

* EVENT TIME - 451 AM CST AT CARRIER MILS...TO 456 AM CST AT
  HARRISBURG TO 510 AM CST AT RIDGWAY.

* EVENT TYPE - EF4 TORNADO

* FATALITIES - 6 CONFIRMED

* INJURIES - APPROXIMATELY 100-110

* PEAK WIND - ESTIMATED 180 MPH (ADJUSTED UPWARD FROM INITIAL
  ESTIMATE OF 170 MPH (STRIP MALL DAMAGE). 180 MPH PEAK BASED ON
  NUMEROUS LEVELED AND DISPLACED HOMES.)

* AVERAGE PATH WIDTH - 275 YARDS (UPDATED FROM EARLIER 250 YARD
  AVERAGE WIDTH)

* TRACK LENGTH - 26.5 MILES FROM 1 MILE NORTH OF CARRIER MILLS
  ILLINOIS TO 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF RIDGWAY ILLINOIS. (UPDATED FOR
  EASTERN EXTENT OF PATH)

* DISCUSSION/DAMAGE - IN HARRISBURG...OVER 200 HOMES AND ABOUT 25
  BUSINESSES WERE DESTROYED OR HEAVILY DAMAGED...INCLUDING A STRIP
  MALL DESTROYED ON THE EAST SIDE OF HWY 45. AT LEAST 10 HOMES OR
  OTHER BUILDINGS WERE LEVELED...WITH SEVERAL HOME STRUCTURES
  DISPLACED FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS. HUNDREDS OF LARGE TREES
  SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG WITH MANY POWER LINES DOWN. IN
  RIDGWAY...THE TORNADO DAMAGED ABOUT 140 HOMES AND BUSINESSES
  CAUSING 1 CRITICAL INJURY AND ABOUT A DOZEN RELATIVELY MINOR
  INJURIES. NUMEROUS CARS WERE TOSSED AROUND...MAINLY ON THE EAST
  SIDE RIDGWAY. A LARGE CHURCH BUILDING WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
  A HALF DOZEN GRAIN BINS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

$$

SHANKLIN/LUDINGTON/HOOPER