MILLBURY, Ohio (AP) -- A tornado unleashed a "war zone" of destruction in northwest Ohio, destroying dozens of homes and an emergency services building as a line of storms killed at least seven people and briefly threatened the Northeast on Sunday. Storms collapsed a movie-theater roof in Illinois and ripped siding off a building at a Michigan nuclear plant, forcing a shutdown. But most of the worst was reserved for a 100-yard-wide, 7-mile-long strip southeast of Toledo now littered with wrecked vehicles, splintered wood and family possessions. The tornado ripped the roof and back wall off Lake High School's gymnasium at about 11 p.m. Saturday, several hours before the graduation ceremony was supposed to begin. The school board president said one of the victims was the father of the class valedictorian.
(24 images)
Follow The Frame on Twitter at sacbee_theframe
An American flag flies nears a tornado damaged house in Lake Township, Ohio, Sunday, June 6, 2010. AP / Paul Sancya
School buses are shown after being tossed by a tornado in the parking lot of damaged Lake High School in Lake Township, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. Authorities say tornados and thunderstorms that swept through the Midwest overnight killed a number of people in Ohio, destroyed homes and damaged a high school gymnasium where graduation was to be held Sunday. AP / Paul Sancya
Mary Hoefflin, left, and Lauren Densic hug amid tornado debris on Main Street in Millbury, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. AP / Paul Sancya
Residents clear tornado debris in Millbury, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. AP / Paul Sancya
Bethany Millhime looks for personal belongings in the aftermath of a tornado in Millbury, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. . AP / Paul Sancya
Doreen Westbrook looks out on the scattered remains of her home in Streator, Ill. on Sunday, June 6, 2010. This intersection was the scene of some of the worst damage, resulting from a tornado that swept across the area Saturday night. Lacking home insurance, Westbrook is uncertain of what will happen in the future. The News Tribune / Amanda Whitlock
Workers continue cleanup in downtown Elmwood, Ill. Sunday, June 6, 2010, after a tornado ripped through the town Saturday evening. Peoria Journal Star / Leslie Renken
Damaged cars are scattered after a tornado hit the area on June 6, 2010 in Millbury, Ohio. A tornado killed at least seven people in Lake Township last night as it tore west an eight-mile path from Moline to Millbury. Sentinel-Tribune / J.D. Pooley
Tornado debris is shown on Main Street in Millbury, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. AP / Paul Sancya
A destroyed home is seen in Millbury, Ohio, Sunday, June 6, 2010. Sentinel-Tribune / J.D. Pooley
Tornado damage is shown on Main Street in Millbury, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. AP / Paul Sancya
A child's bicycle is shown Sunday, June 6, 2010 impaled into the side of a home after a tornado hit in Millbury, Ohio. AP / Paul Sancya
Debris is scattered around vehicles after a tornado in Millbury, Ohio, Sunday, June 6, 2010. Sentinel-Tribune / J.D. Pooley
Businesses and personal property were damaged after a tornado touched down in Dundee, Michigan on Sunday, June 6, 2010. Detroit Free Press / Kathleen Galligan
A Lake High School official walks past damage left by a tornado at the high school in Millbury, Ohio, Sunday, June 6, 2010. Sentinel-Tribune / J.D. Pooley
Vehicles are turned over from a tornado that hit Lake High School in Millbury, Ohio, Sunday, June 6, 2010. Sentinel-Tribune / J.D. Pooley
Lyle Schulte searches for personal belongings in tornado debris in Millbury, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. AP / Paul Sancya
Don Clay, left, of Dundee, searches through the rubble of his home with his brother Sam Clay after an early morning tornado leveled the two-story house he was living in with his sister Sue Britton on Sunday, June 6, 2010 in Dundee, Mich. Clay survived with a black eye and bruises after he fell through the second floor and his sister was later found alive, buried underneath the rubble. She was rescued by local fire departments and was being held in a Toledo hospital for further observation. AP / Jerry S. Mendoza
John Roelle carries belongings from his tornado damaged home in Millbury, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. Authorities say tornados and thunderstorms that swept through the Midwest overnight killed a number of people in Ohio, destroyed homes and damaged a high school gymnasium where graduation was to be held Sunday. AP / Paul Sancya
John Roelle carries belongings from his tornado damaged home in Millbury, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. Authorities say tornados and thunderstorms that swept through the Midwest overnight killed a number of people in Ohio, destroyed homes and damaged a high school gymnasium where graduation was to be held Sunday. AP / Paul Sancya
Gilbert Ostrada helps clean up the aftermath of a tornado in Millbury, Ohio Sunday, June 6, 2010. AP / Paul Sancya
Scott Swartz walks down his basement stairs, Sunday, June 6, 2010, where Swartz and his wife and twelve year old son made it to safety before the tornado destroyed their home in Millbury, Ohio. Sentinel-Tribune / J.D. Pooley
Brenda York stands near her business, York Nursery Supply, which was leveled after a tornado touched down in Dundee, Michigan, Sunday, June 6, 2010. "You never think it's going to happen here-- happen to you," said Brenda. Detroit Free Press / Kathleen Galligan
Kelly Kirchner reacts while looking over damage left by a tornado in Millbury, Ohio, Sunday, June 6, 2010. Sentinel-Tribune / J.D. Pooley
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.