Storms Damage Central Illinois

Highwinds put many in fear today ..dreading a tornado. Fortunately only high winds passed through ..but that storm still left a mark in a neighboring county. In Christian County the straight-line winds left a family packing up their stuff. The National Weather Service reports the roof flew off a home during the lunch hour. It didn't report how fast the winds were moving ... But now the family is left with a blue tarp for some protection. This is the only heavy damage reported by the county's emergency agency ... However power is back on .. after 300 people were without it earlier today. But the mayor was busy answering callers ... Wondering why the new tornado sirens didn't sound. "All the criteria that is set up by the National Weather Service of when to set off the sirens was not there. That's why the sirens did not go off the way the way they did." Said Taylorville Mayor Frank Mathon. This is the first season since Taylorville's been manned with tornado sirens. Last spring a twister hit hard in Taylorville destroying homes businesses and a church. Leaders voted to spend 200-thousand dollars to put about 10 sirens up around town. For Springfield ... Heavy rain and reports of marble sized hail. The city reported no heavy damage ... Only broken limbs in some areas.