About this recording
Published 2026-05-26. On May twenty-sixth, nineteen seventeen, one of Illinois’ deadliest tornado disasters tore through central Illinois. The Mattoon–Charleston tornado disaster killed one hundred eight people and injured about six hundred thirty-eight. Before Doppler radar, before phone alerts, and before modern warning systems, many people had almost no time to react. This archived recording reflects reporting at publication; conditions may have changed.
An archive briefing, not a real-time warning. Follow current instructions from local authorities.
Understand the reports
Use these explainers to interpret the measurements and warnings discussed in disaster coverage. They provide background, not updates to this archived briefing.
