Tornadoes rip through Midwest, killing 6 and devastating neighborhoods

Washington, Illinois (CNN) -- They sifted through the darkness, hoping their flashlights would shine on something -- anything -- salvageable.

Instead, they found their life's belongings strewn in pieces among heaps of rubble where their homes once stood.

But they were the fortunate ones -- the ones who survived after 81 reported tornadoes tore through the Midwest on Sunday. The storms killed six people and destroyed at least 70 homes in Illinois alone.

"These storms having been moving so fast today, it's been hard to keep up," storm chaser Tony Laubach told CNN as he watched a tornado touch down outside Lebanon, Indiana.Read more..