Multiple tornadoes struck central Indiana Wednesday – damaging homes, leveling buildings and piling cars on top of one another like toys.
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The National Weather Service said, “A confirmed large and destructive tornado was located near Kokomo”.
The tornado landed about 10 miles east of the city, .
A Kokomo fire dispatcher said there were reports of minor injuries, property damage and downed trees.
Massive thunderstorms and at least five tornadoes ploughed through central IN, IN the U.S., on Wednesday – knocking out power to thousands of homes. He said the complex has 16 buildings and “probably eight of them don’t have a roof”.
A series of tornadoes swept through parts of IN on Wednesday, collapsing a coffee shop and damaging a Kokomo neighborhood that was severely damaged by a twister just two years ago.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said he’ll tour Howard and Montgomery counties on Thursday to assess the damage. In a tweet, Pence asked to “Please keep Hoosiers in your prayers”.
City and county officials declared a state emergency across the city and county, banning all traffic until 9 p.m.to leave room for medical and law enforcement personnel.
There were no serious injuries reported.
Luckily, no injuries have been reported as a result of the storms, though a second tornado has been spotted in the area.
Duke Energy has reported 29,000 power outages across the region, while the Indianapolis Power and Light (IPL) has recorded 7,500.
Kokomo mayor Greg Goodnight said the damage had displaced between 300 to 700 people, with emergency shelters now in operation.
Authorities in Indianapolis and central in blasted warnings to seek shelter Wednesday after multiple funnel clouds were reported in the area.
Tornado warnings were issued in 27 counties, but no one was known to have been killed or badly hurt, Pence said, adding that he would remain in IN for “as long as we need to be here”.
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Despite all the damage, not deaths were reported. A Starbucks is destroyed and a Kokomo radio station is reporting substantial damage to Markland Mall.
