Severe storms wreak havoc in the Midwest, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake
On Thursday, a series of severe storms tore through three Midwestern states, unleashing a tornado in northwestern Ohio and causing extensive damage in eastern Indiana. The towns of Winchester and Selma in Indiana bore the brunt of the devastation, with reports of numerous homes being damaged and destroyed.
In Winchester, a tornado is believed to have struck a trailer park, leaving a pastor to lament the destruction of his church. Meteorologists are working to confirm the tornado touchdown in the area, with radar data and eyewitness reports pointing towards a twister.
Further west in Indiana, the town of Selma saw nearly half of its structures damaged, although thankfully only minor injuries were reported. In Jefferson County, extensive damage was reported, with multiple homes damaged and trees and power lines down.
In neighboring Ohio, a lakeside mobile home community near Lakeview was severely impacted by the storms, with officials assessing the extent of the damage.
The storms also crossed into Kentucky, where Trimble County bore the brunt of the destruction. Emergency management officials reported severe damage to 20-30 homes, leaving a majority of households without power. Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that the tornado also hit Gallatin County and possibly Carroll County.
Overall, over 55,000 customers were left without power in Indiana and Kentucky as a result of the storms. The National Weather Service issued warnings of a “very dangerous half-mile-wide tornado” causing damage to homes and structures in Ohio, with multiple tornadic rotations being monitored in different counties.
As the affected communities begin the process of recovery and rebuilding, the resilience and strength of the residents shine through in the face of nature’s fury.
