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In some communities, entire blocks of houses have been flattened.

The states that have been most severely affected include: Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and western New York.

Six people have died in Illinois and one in Michigan.

Authorities fear that the death toll could increase as towns begin to clean up and restore communication.

Read more at The Chicago Tribune.

Reach Executive Producer Syuzanna Petrosyan here. Follow her on Twitter.