By Steve Webb
American Staff Writer

Murphysboro Police Chief Jeff Bock was right in the middle of the hurriance-force winds that ripped through the community last Friday.
An earlier storm that came through on Friday prompted the warning sirens in town to be set off, but the only report of damage was a line down on Illinois Route 13.
Bock responded to that line down and was directing traffic when the high winds roared through.
"My car was facing to the east, so the wind was hitting me in the rear of the car,'' Bock said. "I was able to get in and get the door partially closed and latched. I reached down and put the seat belt on and held on tight and just waited for it. The back end of my car did lift up.
"I've never seen anything like it. I've been in tornadoes and wind, but never a wind like this. It was unbelievable."
Once Bock made his way back into town he found that the police station had suffered damage.
"The official damage assessment is done,'' Bock said. "But as far as everything that is damaged I couldn't begin to say.
"We lost one of our communications towers, which went down on top of our whole command post and the truck that hauls it. A tree came through my office window and the wind blew everything around."
Bock said that he, and his entire department, have been working long hours but have been able to get some rest.
"I've been working about 14 hours on,'' Bock said. "I do get to go home and take a hot shower because I have a gas water heater. I do that and go right to bed.
"I've been able to get some rest. When I get home I am flat wore out. By the time I get through the hot shower and sit on the couch and say hi to my wife and son, that's about it for me."