Storms damage several Unit 5 school buildings

Posted on March 19, 2021
Also at Normal West, Brown said storms tore the roof off a mechanical room. (Photo courtesy: Unit 5)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – Several school buildings in Unit 5, in the Twin-Cities, were damaged from Thursday’s storms, which produced wind gusts of up to 52 miles per hour at Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington.

Most of the damage was at Normal West High School in northwest Normal, according to Dayna Brown, Unit 5’s Director of Communications and Community Relations.

Brown said storms loosened the flashing that seals the roof at the northeast corner of the high school. Crews temporarily fastened-down the flashing.

Also at Normal West, Brown said storms tore the roof off a mechanical room.

Roof damage was also reported at Normal Community High School, Chiddix Junior High, and Grove, Northpoint, and Sugar Creek Elementary Schools.

Brown said it wasn’t safe to make roof repairs Thursday. Crews are planning to do repair work at the schools on Friday, Brown said.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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