Ryan Dougherty helps his parents recover items from their Naperville home
Ryan Dougherty helps his parents recover items from their Naperville home on June 22, 2021, after a tornado ripped through their neighborhood. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ

PHOTOS: Residents Clean Up After Devastating Tornadoes West Of Chicago

Ryan Dougherty helps his parents recover items from their Naperville home on June 22, 2021, after a tornado ripped through their neighborhood. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
By Manuel Martinez
Ryan Dougherty helps his parents recover items from their Naperville home
Ryan Dougherty helps his parents recover items from their Naperville home on June 22, 2021, after a tornado ripped through their neighborhood. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ

PHOTOS: Residents Clean Up After Devastating Tornadoes West Of Chicago

By Manuel Martinez
WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Communities southwest of Chicago are recovering after multiple tornadoes touched down late Sunday, damaging hundreds of homes, knocking down trees and power lines and injuring multiple people. The most severe storm, which hit parts of Burr Ridge, Darien, Naperville and Woodridge, clocked 140 mph winds, according to the National Weather Service.

Two days later, residents came together to pick up the pieces with emotions running high as the reality of the twisters’ devastation came into clearer view. Debris, fallen trees and personal family items littered the streets as city work crews began cleanup. Meanwhile, local church groups and others helped neighbors by piling up donations that popped up on nearly every block.

WBEZ photographer Manuel Martinez captured the scene in the western suburbs on Tuesday.

damage on the street in Woodridge
Views of Woodridge after a tornado ripped through the area. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
exterior tornado damage in Naperville
More than 100 homes across Chicago’s western suburbs were damaged during the storm. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
Severed tree trunks line residential streets in Woodridge
Severed tree trunks line residential streets in Woodridge. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
The Patal family stands in the remains of their leveled home
The Patal family stands in the remains of their leveled home in Naperville’s Ranchview neighborhood. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
Workers inspect damage to a Woodridge home
Workers inspect damage to a Woodridge home. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
Jim Dougherty stands outside his Naperville home
Jim Dougherty stands outside his Naperville home. He and his wife Alda’s bedroom roof was crushed during the storm. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
Marc Whirledge picks up the side wall of his garage with help from neighbors and friends
Marc Whirledge picks up the side wall of his garage with help from neighbors and friends in Naperville’s Cinnamon Creek neighborhood. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
Sara Knight helps rake debris from a yard
Sara Knight of the Trinity Lutheran Church relief group helps rake debris from a fellow parishioner’s yard in Woodridge. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
Donated items seen in Naperville’s Cinnamon Creek neighborhood
Donated items seen in Naperville’s Cinnamon Creek neighborhood. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ

Manuel Martinez is a visual journalist at WBEZ. Follow him @DenverManuel. Libby Berry produced the digital version of this story. Follow her @libbyaberry. The Associated Press contributed