Storm Chasing in Reverse?!

18 Apr, 2026

Stormy weather, cold weather, and hot-humid weather are all things that need to be considered when living the van life.

Over the years I’ve considered that I don’t like storms.

I can do cold (freezing) weather but I’d rather not.

As for extreme hot-humid weather, with no AC it can become a life threatening issue (only took once to learn that lesson).

I’ve had my share of tornados, flash floods, tropical storms, and more. But the latest one happened on April 17 in my hometown of Lena Illinois - where some of my family lives and where I stay at one of the area campgrounds over the summer.

I was supposed to check in to the campground on April 17. But it was going to be a cold weekend so I changed my check-in day to Monday (April 20).

My options were to stay south until Monday or use my moldy hotel rewards and book a hotel near Lena for the weekend.

The hotel had a room available so I booked it.

Visiting Auntie M…

I had time to spare before checking in to the hotel, so I went to see Auntie M.

I also unloaded my food at her house because I didn’t want it to freeze sitting in the van over the weekend. It’s easier to take it to her house than to the hotel. Auntie M doesn’t require me to have it all packed up and out by an 11am check-out time. I can get it when I’m ready 😁

Barely half an hour later, I felt a calm but persistent urge to leave and get back to Freeport (a 20-25 minute drive).

Before leaving Lena, I stopped at Casey’s to fill Bella up with gas.

Bella was thirsty! $76.83 later, I was heading to Freeport.

In the distance behind me, the skies were gloomy. Ahead of me, the sun was out and skies were blue.

I checked in to the hotel at 3:09pm…

It took a while to check in because the lady checking me in was confused on what day it was. Then I started to get confused, wondering if I’m there on the wrong day. Thankfully someone stepped in to straighten us out!

Not having packed a bag ahead of time, I gathered up what I thought I needed, tossed it into the collapsible wagon, and headed to my room.

The timeline unfolds…

I dropped my things off in my hotel room. I was hungry and planned on going somewhere to grab a bite to eat. But the text messages and phone calls started flooding in.

At 3:46pm, my brother sent me a video of the view from his place in Lena. It was raining hard with sheets of rain rolling across the screen in waves.

When I look out my Freeport hotel window, the sidewalks are bone dry. It’s gloomy over yonder but blue above. Freeport was on the edge of a storm and I hoped it just passed us by.

We continue texting back and forth as the storm continued. My brother doesn’t text or call about minor things so I knew it was important to listen.

At 3:58pm, Auntie M’s neighbor calls to ask if I’m ok (they thought I was at the campground). She said she thinks they had a tornado and Auntie M’s front door just blew off.

I called Auntie M but it just went to voicemail. The neighbors went over to check on her.

At 3:59pm, my brother sent me a video of the huge hail coming down.

Once it stopped hailing, he sent a picture of the hail next to his shoe to show the size.

I don’t remember his shoe size but, when he was younger, my Mom bought him new shoes and told him they were banana boats. He went to school and proudly told everyone about his new “banana boats”. Funny how a simple picture brings back memories.

At 4:12pm, he sent me a video of the fresh aftermath as he walked down his street. There were trees and branches down and debris hanging in trees.

As for Freeport…

I don’t remember when it started but it only rained at the hotel.

It must have rained pretty hard because it actually cleaned the bug guts off the windshield of the van. I haven’t seen it that clean in a while.

The aftermath…

The preliminary report lists this as a high-end EF-2 tornado. I watched it from Freeport through my brother’s videos (and what people later posted on Facebook).

In less than 30 minutes time, parts of Lena were completely destroyed. Debris everywhere, houses with no roofs, houses missing a wall or more, and spots where a house once stood. I don’t think recovery efforts are completed yet but, per the latest report, there were no serious injuries or deaths.

The power is still out for those I’ve talked to and, I assume, most everyone else. Some estimates say power is to be restored by tonight.

Parting thoughts…

I called the campground and they are up and running. They still have no power but expect it to be restored by tomorrow.

I still can’t call Auntie M. It keeps going to voicemail. She only has a landline but I can call her neighbors and her Caregiver was able to get there today.

There’s more I’ll need to do for Auntie M and I’ll figure it out as I go.

I can’t stop thinking about that calm little nudge to leave Lena early. Nor can I stop thinking about the texts and phone calls from family and friends asking if I’m ok (because they thought I was at the campground) and from those who needed to tell someone what they just lived through.

It’s a lot to take in. More will unfold in the coming days…

Connie 🌼

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