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Where Were You? Remembering the Plainfield Tornado of 1990

Ann Ilibasic's photo
Plainfield Examiner

 Around 3:30 pm on August 28, 1990 with no sirens to announce its approach, a devastating tornado ripped through Plainfield, forever changing our history. Rated as an F-5, it remains the most powerful tornado ever to hit the Chicago area. The tornado left a total of 29 people dead, 350 people injured, 1,000 people homeless and an estimated $160,000,000 in damage. Following the catastrophic event, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Disaster Survey Team concluded that there was a "lack of coordinated, comprehensive, or integrated county-wide procedures or structures for, or dealing with, possible severe weather occurrences within the counties struck by the tornado." As a result, through the combined efforts of the National Weather Service, the College of DuPage, the DuPage Office of Emergency Management and other emergency management offices in northeast Illinois, the Multi-County Severe Weather Warning System was created[1].

 
The Village of Plainfield is also planning A 20th Anniversary Plainfield Tornado Community Commemoration for Saturday, August 28th at 3:00 p.m. This event will be held on the west bank of the DuPage River, just south of Lockport Street. As part of this anniversary, several trees will be planted as a living legacy to the victims that lost their lives. For more information, please contact the Village of Plainfield Trustee Paul Fay.
 
The Plainfield Examiner would like to observe the 20th anniversary of the disaster by commemorating the community that “rose above the storm”. If you have a story or picture to share, please e-mail the Plainfield Examiner, Ann Ilibasic, at annilibasic@sbcglobal.net.
 
Tornado Path: Courtesy of Plainfield Public Library

Tornado Path courtesy of Plainfield Public Library

 
 
Stuff to Know:  The Fujita scale, developed by T. Theodore Fujitais, a wind estimate and damage scale used to classify tornadoes. The scale was enhanced in 2007, with rankings running from EF (Enhanced Fujita) - 0 through 5. 
 
The ratings are:
EF-0. Light damage
Wind 65 to 85 mph. Causes some damage to siding and shingles

EF-1. Moderate damage
Wind 86 to 110 mph. Considerable roof damage. Winds can uproot trees and overturn single-wide mobile homes. Flagpoles bend.

EF-2. Considerable damage
Wind 111 to 135 mph. Most single-wide mobile homes destroyed. Permanent homes can shift off foundation. Flagpoles collapse. Softwood trees debarked.

EF-3. Severe damage
Wind 136 to 165 mph. Hardwood trees debarked. All but small portions of houses destroyed.

EF-4. Devastating damage
Wind 166 to 200 mph. Complete destruction of well-built residences, large sections of school buildings.

EF-5. Incredible damage
Wind above 200 mph. Significant structural deformation of mid- and high-rise buildings.


[1] Sirvatka, P., Meffered, T. 1994:A Model for a Multi-County Severe Weather Warning System: Submitted for the Symposium on Weather Analysis and Forecasting, January 1994. http://weather.cod.edu/skywarn/paper.html
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, Plainfield Examiner

As a resident of Plainfield for 10-plus years, Ann has been an active, vital member of the community during its population boom. Through her role as mom of three, community volunteer and advocate, and "hometown" consumer, she has built successful relationships with several community members and...

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