Tornado Strikes Home, Killing One and Injuring Another in Indiana
SHOALS, Ind. (AP) — A tornado tore through a home in Shoals, Indiana on Sunday evening, resulting in the death of one occupant and injuring another. The severe weather also impacted parts of Tennessee and other states, according to officials.
The tornado that hit the home was part of a storm system that moved through Martin County, Indiana, causing significant damage. WXIN-TV reported that multiple trees were brought down by high winds in the rural area where the home was located.
Martin County Emergency Management Agency Director Cameron Wolf confirmed the fatality and injury, but further details about the casualties and the extent of storm damage have not been released. The Martin County emergency management officials have yet to respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.
Shoals, the Martin County seat, is situated approximately 85 miles southwest of Indianapolis and 80 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky.
In addition to the tornado in Shoals, another tornado touched down in Johnson County, south of Indianapolis, causing damage to at least 75 homes. Communities including Greenwood and Bargersville were affected by the tornado, according to officials.
Michael Pruitt, deputy fire chief of Bargersville, Indiana, stated that a search and rescue operation did not find any deaths or injuries after responding to a report of a structure collapse resulting from the Johnson County tornado. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 15 minutes.
Bargersville Fire Chief Erik Funkhouser reported that at least 75 homes suffered moderate to severe damage in a 3-mile area as the tornado crossed Indiana State Road 135 near Interstate 69. The scene is considered dangerous due to downed power lines throughout the affected area, Funkhouser added. Affected homes could be without electricity for several days, according to Michael Pruitt.
Eyewitnesses shared their experiences of the tornadoes. Jessyca Copas, along with her wife and father-in-law, watched as the funnel cloud moved behind a home across the street. Copas described seeing a buzzard caught in the tornado and took shelter in a bathroom with her family when a tree fell into their home.
Kimber Olson, who resides in Bargersville, instructed her 8-year-old son to sit in the bathtub while she filmed two cyclones approaching their apartment. Olson described the deafening sound and the fear she experienced as the tornado got closer. She eventually took cover in the bathtub with her son and heard her window shatter as glass exploded.
Survey teams are scheduled to visit Martin, Johnson, Daviess, and Monroe counties on Monday to assess the damage caused by the severe storms and tornadoes, as reported by the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis.
In Memphis, Tennessee, storms with strong winds knocked down trees and caused damage, leaving approximately 120,000 homes and businesses without power on Sunday. Utility companies in Michigan also reported power outages, with DTE Energy stating that about 75,700 customers in southeastern Michigan were affected. Consumers Energy reported outages in southwestern Michigan, and Michigan Indiana Power reported that around 4,000 customers in southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana lost electricity due to the storms.
The story has been updated to correct the spelling of Johnson County.
What is the extent of the storm damage in Martin County, Indiana, following the tornado that hit a residential home in Shoals?
Tornado Hits Home in Indiana, Resulting in One Death and One Injury
A devastating tornado tore through a residential home in Shoals, Indiana on Sunday evening, leading to the tragic death of one occupant and injuring another. This violent storm also affected various parts of Tennessee and neighboring states, according to official reports.
The powerful tornado that hit the home was part of a larger storm system that swept through Martin County, Indiana, causing widespread destruction. Local news outlet WXIN-TV revealed that the high winds knocked down multiple trees in the rural area where the house was located.
Cameron Wolf, the Director of Martin County Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the fatality and injury but did not provide further details about the casualties or the extent of storm damage. The Martin County emergency management officials have not responded to inquiries from The Associated Press.
Shoals, the county seat of Martin County, is situated approximately 85 miles southwest of Indianapolis and 80 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky.
In addition to the tornado in Shoals, another tornado touched down in Johnson County, south of Indianapolis, causing significant damage to at least 75 homes. Communities like Greenwood and Bargersville were particularly affected by this tornado, according to local authorities.
Deputy Fire Chief Michael Pruitt of Bargersville, Indiana, reported that a thorough search and rescue operation did not find any further deaths or injuries after responding to a report of a collapsed structure caused by the tornado in Johnson County. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 15 minutes before dissipating.
How devastating! My thoughts and prayers go out to the family affected by this tragic tornado. May the injured recover swiftly and may the community come together to support one another during this difficult time.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased and those injured in this tragic tornado incident. Mother nature’s power can be devastating, but communities often come together to support and rebuild in times like these.