The National Weather Service says a preliminary damage survey shows the EF3 tornado that hit Kokomo had an estimated peak wind of 152 miles per hour.
Advertisement
An EF-3 touched down in Kokomo; an EF-2 caused extensive damage in Montgomery County; two EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed in Howard County and another in Carroll and Howard Counties; and an EF-0 touched down in Marion County.
Weather service crews were still assessing the scope of the storms in IN, but a spokesman for the state Department of Homeland Security, John Erickson, said at least 12 tornadoes were confirmed in eight northern and central counties.
“At this point, I say with a grateful heart that we have no reports of serious injuries or deaths as a result of these storms”, he told reporters.
The city of Kokomo and Howard County declared a joint state of emergency closing all roads to people and motor vehicles, apart from emergency vehicles, until 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Police officers in Indianapolis also spotted at least two funnel clouds close to the ground Wednesday just south of Interstate 70, according to officer Jim Gillespie of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Several more tornado paths are still to be surveyed over northeast IN into Ohio.
“I know as an organization, Mr. (Jim) Irsay and everybody else are going to do their part and lend a hand so to speak and try to help those people recover as much as we can”, Pagano said. By midday Friday, utility Duke Energy reported fewer than 4,000 properties without electricity and predicted all would have power restored by Saturday night. “Now that it’s hitting home I understand how it could affect families”.
Mike Pence was off the campaign trail on Thursday touring the damage in Kokomo. Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman said the declaration will likely remain in effect until tomorrow morning for the hardest hit areas.
Police have restricted access to storm-damage neighborhoods, saying residents must show identification to officers before entering.
Tens of thousands of people were left without power, and Goodnight said that a major focus now is working on repairing damaged lines and restoring power.
Gov. Pence praises common sense for saving Hoosier lives.
The storm then hit a Starbucks, totally flattening the building.
“I was there for the tornado in 2013, and that was just very bad to see and be there”, Persons said.
Advertisement
She’s urging people not to bring donations to the emergency shelter.
