Storms rip through homes in Elkhart

ELKHART, Ind. -- NIPSCO still has about 21,000 customers off-line in the wake of the Derecho windstorm and two tornados that left some 140,000 homes and businesses in the dark in Northwest Indiana Monday.

Indiana Michigan Power is down to about 850 outages, mostly in the hard-hit Elkhart area where a confirmed EF1 tornado downed hundreds of trees and power lines.

Neighbors are still cleaning up all the damage left behind and it could take a while.

Tornado damage doesn't clear out overnight and the damage to the houses is a prime example of that.

Devastation came through Elkhart neighborhoods as an EF1 tornado ripped through homes early Tuesday morning like the Cross' home which was split in half by a tree.

The Cross family, Rebecca and Derrick, was sleeping when an explosion-like sound jolted them out of bed.

The ceiling collapsed and fell to the floor and the house was damaged by one of their backyard trees.

The years of memories in their home are irreplaceable and the home they knew is gone.

The family is now in a hotel and with the outpouring of support from the community and family look to rebuild and they say they will return to the community they call home despite the devastation.