A man captured the terrifying moment a tornado tore through his home while he sheltered inside. Trevor Jason Kreke, from Effingham, Illinois, was filming the severe weather on Wednesday to show a friend when the situation escalated.
Escaping Unharmed
He told Storyful: 'It started getting very intense, and the whole house started shaking, and glass started breaking. I felt terrified in the moment.' Kreke credited divine intervention for his safety, as he walked away with only a cut on his hand despite the building being ripped apart.
The footage shows him sitting in rubble where his home once stood. He exclaims: 'Oh my gosh. What in the world just happened? I feel alright. I got scraped up. That was insane.' Both his home and car were destroyed by the violent winds.
Storm Damage in Effingham County
Authorities confirmed the tornado traveled an estimated 12 to 15 miles through northern Effingham County on Wednesday evening. The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency reported 30 homes destroyed and 29 others heavily damaged, but no serious injuries occurred.
The tornado was spawned by Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the season, which arrived from the Gulf on Wednesday. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for all of Effingham until 4:30 p.m. the following day, with winds up to 60 mph and up to four inches of rain expected. About 177,000 people were in the warning zone.
Officials warned: 'Strong thunderstorms will move through the area this afternoon and evening. Be prepared for gusty winds, which can knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects, and heavy lightning. Take shelter now!'
Rise in Tornadoes
Illinois has experienced a surge in tornadoes this year, with about 140 hitting the state in 2026 so far, according to the Chicago Tribune. This is on track to exceed the annual record of 142 set in 2024. Between 1990 and 2020, an average of 54 tornadoes occurred annually. Climatologist Trent Ford described the increase as a 'step change' rather than a 'trend.'
