Tornadoes cause damage in Indiana, Ohio

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

What was called an “unpredictable” storm saw several tornadoes touch down in Van Wert County and other parts of Ohio and Indiana — including tornadoes that caused significant damage in Kokomo and Indianapolis, Indiana, and power outages in Convoy and Ohio City.

Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy noted that no timeline has been given by AEP on when power will be restored in either Convoy or Ohio City, adding, though, that it might Thursday afternoon or later when power is back up in those county villages.

McCoy said AEP would try to backfeed power from Dayton Power & Light into Ohio City, but cannot guarantee being able to do so for Convoy.

Three American Red Cross damage assessment teams area also in the county looking at damage in the Schumm/Glenmore area, in an area west of Van Wert, and in the Wetzel area.

“At least two tornadoes have been confirmed that were up and down on the ground at different locations,” he said, adding that at least one tornado carved a damage path nearly 17 miles long before exiting the county near Wetzel.

McCoy said no injuries were reported in the county, but houses, barns and other outbuildings, trees, and utility poles were damaged by the storms. The storms also did damage in Paulding, Putnam, Henry and Defiance counties.

The EMA director noted that Wednesday night’s tornadoes unexpectedly took a parallel path to the November 10, 2002, storm that killed two people and did millions of dollars in property damage, although earlier predictions were that the storm would stay south of Van Wert County.

McCoy said the storm “made an abrupt turn” in Monroe, Indiana, veering northeast and into this county.

Meanwhile, more storms are possible today. After light rain this morning, the National Weather Service is calling for an 80 percent chance of severe thunderstorms this afternoon.