Emergency Operations Center activated as tornado damage reported in Western Illinois

Cameron silo down, courtesy of Kholby Martin/KWQC

Tornado in far Western Illinois has caused severe damage Thursday evening prompting the Governor to activate the State Emergency Operations Center.

Governor Bruce Rauner has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to ensure to act quickly if any local responders need our assistance. "Illinois State Police is already at the scene and we have staff from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency enroute to the area to support local response efforts,” he said in a news release.

According to The Olympian, Illinois State Police hasn't received reports of significant injuries after a tornado hit the Illinois town of Cameron.

Local electric utility Ameren Illinois said thousands of customers in the area were without power. A temporary shelter has been set up at United High School near the town of Monmouth, AP reported.

A powerful damaging tornado in Illinois in April 2015 claimed life of a person and injured seven others. Tornadoes that hit central and southern Illinois in November 2013 claimed several lives and caused massive damage.