Powerful storms unleashed a barrage of tornadoes across Indiana and Ohio on Thursday evening, leaving at least three people dead and entire communities grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic destruction.
As survey teams continue to assess the full extent of the damage, harrowing accounts from survivors and officials have begun to shed light on the sheer force of the twisters that tore through the region.
In Logan County, Ohio, Sheriff Randall Dodds described the impact of an EF3 tornado as akin to “a bomb going off,” leaving “unbelievable damage” in its wake. The tornado claimed three lives, marking the highest death toll from the outbreak thus far.
Nearby, the Indian Lake community bore the brunt of the storm’s fury, with homes, businesses, and public buildings reduced to rubble.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said to CNN that after surveying the devastation in Indian Lake,
“Nothing prepared me in regard to what we’d been hearing and (seeing) in the pictures to actually seeing the damage. There is a tremendous amount of damage here.”
The storms exacted a heavy toll in Indiana, where an EF3 tornado ripped through the town of Winchester, destroying or damaging dozens of homes. In the nearby community of Selma, officials estimated that up to half of the buildings sustained damage from the severe weather.
Across the two states, official stated that the tornadoes left a trail of destruction, injuring at least 38 people in Indiana and more than 20 in Ohio. Residents have recounted their harrowing experiences of seeking shelter as the twisters bore down, with some families huddling in restrooms and praying for their safety as the storms raged around them.
The affected communities in Indiana and Ohio have begun the arduous task of recovery and rebuilding. Officials have praised the resilience and selflessness of residents, many of whom have already stepped up to offer assistance and shelter to those affected.
Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted commended them saying,
“Neighbors were bringing their chainsaws and generators to help those who needed them. You see the resilience in the commitment to each other.”
While the immediate focus remains on search and rescue efforts, as well as providing aid to those displaced by the storms, the long-term impact of this outbreak is expected to be significant with more severe weather forecasted in the region.
