Powerful storms moved through the Effingham area Wednesday night, with a confirmed tornado hitting the Shumway and Montrose areas around 8 p.m. A second storm followed around 9:15 p.m. As of 10 p.m., there were no reports of serious injuries, while emergency c
Effingham woke up to the kind of damage you can’t unsee—power lines down across the roadways, collapsed structures, and the uneasy silence that follows a night where weather hits hard and fast.
The first storm struck the area around 8 p.m., bringing a confirmed tornado that visited the Shumway and Montrose areas. Even as the sky shifted again, homes and businesses across the broader Effingham area suffered damage.
A second storm followed around 9:15 p.m. By 10 p.m., emergency officials said there were no reports of any serious injuries.
Emergency services and law enforcement personnel stayed busy through the night, moving from one damage report to the next—checking conditions on the ground and double-checking on the welfare of those affected.
Effingham Fire Department Chief Brant Yochum said the Effingham Fire Department responded to numerous storm-related emergencies. primarily in the Shumway and Siegel areas. He described crews being called to heavily damaged homes. collapsed structures. motor vehicle crashes. downed power lines. gas leaks. and blocked roadways. along with other hazardous conditions created by the storms.
Firefighters conducted searches of damaged structures. assisted residents. mitigated immediate hazards. and worked closely with utility companies and other responding agencies to ensure public safety. Several individuals sustained minor injuries within the Effingham Fire Department’s response area. but no life-threatening injuries were reported in the areas served by Effingham Fire Department crews. Yochum also reported that no Effingham Fire Department personnel were injured during response operations.
At the height of the incident, multiple fire, EMS, law enforcement, and utility crews were operating throughout the affected area—an effort Yochum described as requiring coordination across Effingham County.
The chief said the incident highlighted the importance of preparedness, training, and regional cooperation. The Effingham Fire Department extended its appreciation to all fire departments. law enforcement agencies. EMS providers. emergency management personnel. utility crews. public works employees. and volunteers who assisted throughout the evening.
“Our thoughts are with the residents and property owners impacted by this storm. Damage assessments and recovery efforts are ongoing. Residents are urged to use caution around damaged structures. downed power lines. and debris fields and to report hazardous conditions to local authorities. ” Yochum said.
For people in rural parts of Effingham County who need assistance due to damage, County EMA Director Pam Jacobs can be reached at 217-500-9612. Those in the city of Effingham can contact City EMA Director Larry Thies at City Hall.
Videos and photos of the damage are also available online and on the outlet’s Facebook page.
Effingham tornado Shumway Montrose storm damage emergency response downed power lines gas leaks County EMA City EMA
Shumway got hit, crazy… tornadoes don’t even give warning anymore.
So they said no serious injuries by 10 pm but then it says gas leaks and collapsed stuff… like how is that not serious? Just feels weird to me.
Wait didn’t a tornado hit last week too? I swear this is like the same storm pattern again. Also they keep mentioning Shumway and Montrose like those are close to Effingham (are they?). Hope everyone’s homes get rebuilt, but the power lines down across roadways is scary.
Effingham woke up to damage you can’t unsee… yeah I saw the pics on Facebook. I don’t care what they say, that second storm at 9:15 probably was worse. Tornadoes always “confirmed” after the fact, so I’m like… how do they even know it was a tornado for sure? Either way, that whole area needs better alerts.