Severe storms rolled across the Midwest Monday, triggering tornado warnings in the St. Louis metro and central Illinois and leaving more than 250,000 customers without power across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. At least one death has been reported, and damage assessments are underway across several states.

An Extraordinary Season for Illinois

This has already been a historic tornado year in the region. Illinois has recorded more tornadoes than any other state so far this year, more than three times its annual average, and April’s storm counts across the Midwest are running well above normal. For homeowners, that statistic translates directly into outage risk: more storms mean more nights depending on backup power.

Preparing for Possible Impacts

• Inspect your standby generator and ensure it is ready to activate automatically if power is lost.
• Run a test cycle to confirm your system starts and transfers power properly.
• Plan for fuel supply and make sure natural gas or propane systems are fully connected and serviced.
• Consider an upgrade. Whole-home backup solutions from Generac and Kohler deliver seamless power protection during prolonged outages.

Stay Informed

May is historically the busiest tornado month of the year. Stay weather-aware daily and keep your backup systems tested and fueled.