* 3:28 pm - Huge problem in the Carbondale area…

Authorities say winds that reached 100 mph and included possible tornadoes snapped trees and downed power lines in southern Illinois.

Carbondale Township Fire Capt. Mark Black says trees are down and siding from homes is strewn everywhere. He says his firefighters are cutting trees out of the roadway so they can get their trucks out.

My brother Devin lives near Carbondale and my mom just called to say his house is wrecked. He wasn’t home at the time, thank goodness. Neighbors have lost roofs and the roads are jammed.

* 3:33 pm - “My neighborhood is a disaster area,” Devin just said. “This is insane, man.” Part of his house, which is in Carterville, actually separated from the rest of his house. His house was surrounded by very tall trees and now they’re almost all gone.

Devin said he drove 45 miles home from a meeting and there were trees down and damage the entire way.

Rep. John Bradley was just on local radio and said he has already called the governor to seek assistance.

“Carbondale, Marion, everywhere, there’s no power,” Devin said.

* 3:38 pm - Two reported deaths in Missouri, but nothing yet in Illinois, thankfully…

A TV station in Carterville, Ill., has suffered damage to its roof and has gone off the air temporarily, KFVS reported on its Twitter feed.

Illinois State Police have reports of storm damage in seven counties. Police are reporting tornados in Jackson and Perry counties.

According to the National Weather Service, winds were blowing between 70 and 90 miles per hour in the area at midday Friday. And wind gusts near the southern Illinois community of Carbondale reached 100 miles per hour.

*** 3:51 pm *** Rep. John Bradley described the storm as a “hurricane.” His own house lost its roof and he’s out now with neighbors trying to clear the roads.

“We need state resources down here. It’s a disaster area,” Bradley told me. He said Gov. Quinn’s office is “on top of it, I think,” but he added, “We need help. There’s a lot of damage.”

Bradley also said he was sure the locals would accept any sort of assistance from central Illinois communities that can spare it.

* An official with Gov. Quinn’s office says they’re on top of things and are now working on an official disaster declaration. IEMA is coordinating with locals and the guv’s office has been in touch with Rep. Mike Bost as well as Bradley.

* 4:16 pm - More…

Carbondale Township Fire Capt. Mark Black said the “winds were just amazing. They were howling and the siding on the trailers was flying through the air and there was a pretty hard rain.”

Trees were down and siding from homes strewn about, he said. Firefighters had to clear trees off roads to get their trucks out. Black said he’s heard of some injuries but had no details. He said some people abandoned their cars and sought shelter in the fire station.

IEMA claims there have been no local requests yet for state resources, but they have dispatched people in the area to identify those needs. IEMA has pulled in people from various agencies, including IDOT, state police, CMS, etc. to the central emergency center.

* 4:35 pm - From Ameren…

Severe storms have left about 52,000 Southern Illinois Ameren Illinois Utilities customers without electrical service, while downed electrical wires and debris have created hazardous conditions. […]

The Ameren Illinois Utilities have activated their Emergency Operations Center, which is directing the service restoration work. AIU personnel are now assessing the damage to both high voltage lines and the electrical distribution system that brings power to homes and businesses. When this process is completed the Ameren Illinois Utilities will be able to determine estimated restoration times.

Ameren customers can check this website for more info.

* 4:41 pm - Injuries…

Health officials say a truck driver who had to be extricated from an overturned semitrailer was in serious condition at a [Carbondale-area] hospital.

Rosslynd Rice of Southern Illinois Healthcare says about six other patients with minor injuries were being treated at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

* 4:53 pm - I’m about to shut things down for the weekend, so here’s an automated news feed…