The American Red Cross setup a shelter at the Kokomo Event and Conference Center for those displaced by Wednesday’s storms.
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But similarly to 2013, the latest tornadoes seem to have avoided causing any serious injuries.
Broken power lines are the remnants of an apparent tornado that touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016.
People who had been hiding in the Starbucks’ bathroom miraculously survived the tornado with no major injuries.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said he’ll tour Howard and Montgomery counties on Thursday to assess the damage.
Governor Mike Pence was campaigning in North Carolina when the tornado touched down, and he headed back to the Hoosier state.
A tornado was also reported to have thrown grain wagons 500 feet into the air in Wells County, a barn and homes were destroyed in Allen County, and tornadoes were reported to have destroyed barns and mobile homes in western OH, according to reports made to the National Weather Service. He attributed the relatively small number of injuries reported by 8 p.m.to residents taking the approaching storms seriously.
Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said the storm caused “pretty severe property damage” and downed many trees.
Eight funnel clouds were spotted throughout the afternoon but it’s unclear how many touched down, according to Howard County authorities.
The National Weather Service reported a “confirmed large and destructive tornado” hit about 10 miles east of Kokomo, or about 40 miles north of Indianapolis.
“It’s insane. It’s a madhouse”, said Mitchell Carlson, a maintenance technician who witnessed the disaster.
Pence says he’ll remain in the state as long as necessary to ensure people affected by the storms have the support they need.
But no one was injured at the apartments, he said, adding: “So, I guess we’re all blessed at the Park Place”. Falling tree limbs and air conditioners damaged 20 to 30 cars, he said.
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.
A state of emergency was declared in Howard County until at least 9 p.m. after tornadoes rolled through on Wednesday.
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Starbucks released a statement Wednesday saying all customers and employees were safe after the destruction. Public school officials are busy sending school children home on school buses.
