Tornadoes and flooding batter Midwest

The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for approximately 26 million people as the severe storm system moved across the central United States.

In Lena, Illinois, local officials were forced to 'shut down' the village due to debris-blocked roads and compromised power lines.

Meanwhile, historic flooding in Wisconsin and Minnesota has prompted emergency evacuations and significant infrastructure damage.

Forecasters warn that the threat of severe weather will persist through the weekend as the system moves toward the Great Lakes region.