Schnucks stores perishable, frozen foods for Midwest storm victims

NEW YORK — Schnuck Markets is offering to store perishable foods for people who have lost power due to the large storm outbreak that hit the Midwest over the weekend, the supermarket chain said in announcements on its Facebook page.

The chain is offering emergency refrigeration at some of its stores in the St. Louis area, as well as the Illinois towns of Pekin and Peoria. The company said items had to be stored in coolers, containers or bags, sealed and with people's names and phone numbers attached.

According to published reports, at least eight people are dead in what some are calling the worst storm outbreak in a century. On Sunday, powerful storms swept throughout the Midwest, causing nearly 80 tornadoes, mostly in Illinois, and damage that could be as high as $1 billion. Washington, Ill., about 140 mi. from Chicago, suffered severe damage from an EF4 tornado, which NBC News reported was the worst November tornado in that far north a location in a century.