It was responsible for power line damage and a propane leak in Okolona, and a semi-truck was blown over on US 24 between Liberty Center and Napoleon.
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Donnelly said Kokomo is a resilient, tough community and that all the residents he spoke with vowed to rebuild.
The Weather Service also reported that a Starbucks coffee shop was demolished in Kokomo, a city of 45,000 people about 60 miles (97 km) north of Indianapolis, but said there were no immediate reports of anyone hurt.
Before the tornado was on the ground in Howard County, people received telephone calls and text messages through the Everbright system.
The tornado in Kokomo struck at about 3:22 p.m., state police said.
Nield says it’s likely several more tornadoes struck IN, but that those findings won’t come until later Thursday.
Massive thunderstorms and at least five tornadoes ploughed through central IN, IN the U.S., on Wednesday – knocking out power to thousands of homes.
Stay weather aware Thursday morning as more storms are expected to move through.
Red Cross Spokesperson Mark Slusher said more than 100 homes were classified as destroyed.
In a tweet, Pence told followers he was heading back to IN and asked ‘Please keep Hoosiers IN your prayers’.
A Kokomo fire dispatcher said there were reports of minor injuries, property damage and downed trees.
Pence cleared his campaign schedule to come to IN early.
More than 39,000 customers were without power Wednesday evening, utility companies said, with more than 25,000 Duke Energy customers losing electricity in Howard County alone.
Police have restricted access to storm-damage neighborhoods, saying residents must show identification to officers before entering.
Also, happening Thursday, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security will be in the hardest hit areas to determine if Indiana will request aid from the federal government.
The tornado blew roofs off of homes and buildings, knocked over trees and even flattened a Starbucks in Kokomo’s Markland Mall, ABC affiliate WRTV in Indianapolis reported.
One shelter is at the Kokomo Event and Conference Center.
A state of emergency was issued for Howard County Wednesday evening following eight tornado touchdowns.
Pence visited with homeowners to see the devastation and got a look at the Starbucks store destroyed during the storm.
Law enforcement reported a tornado east northeast of downtown Indianapolis on I-70. Authorities say between 15 and 20 people suffered injuries but none were severe. Meteorologist Dave Tucek said a tornado moved across the city Wednesday afternoon.
Pence, who is Indiana’s governor, was campaigning in North Carolina on Wednesday when multiple tornadoes touched down in central Indiana. Damage includes roofs torn off buildings, smashed vehicles and power loss to thousands.
A warm front moving through the area destabilized the environment as an upper wave and low level jet entered the area, according to the weather service.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee, tweeted: “Keeping Hoosiers and first responders in our prayers as risky weather moves through Indiana”.
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A flattened Starbucks, perhaps one of the defining images, was hit by over 160 miles per hour winds.
