Thursday night’s suspected tornado snapped a pole and hurled it into a window in Lakeview.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LAKEVIEW — Three people are confirmed dead in Logan County after severe weather, including storms and tornadoes, ripped through the region Thursday night.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington confirmed Friday that an EF-3 tornado touched down in Lakeview, with an EF-1 tornado confirmed Thursday in Mercer and Auglaize counties, starting near Celina and ending north of Moulton.
According to the Logan County Emergency Management Agency, multiple buildings were damaged or destroyed in the area around Indian Lake, including Lakeview and Russells Point. Several roadways into the Indian Lake area, including U.S. 33 and state Routes 274 and 366 were closed Friday morning.
Amber Fagan, president and chief executive of the Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, said that Lakeview was “completely demolished” by a tornado, which hit homes, campgrounds and a laundromat, according to the Associated Press. Along with the three confirmed fatalities, about 25 people were transported to Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine for treatment, mainly around broken bones and internal injuries, a hospital spokesperson told the Associated Press.
In Russells Point, Lena Moore and her husband, Dan, own the Indian Lake Rollarena. The Moores were not in the area at the time of the tornado, so they did not know what they would find upon their return.
“We were not actually in the tornados,” Moore said via Facebook Messenger. “We were in Vandalia skating when we heard of the tornado ripping through the Indian Lake region. We decided to drive to Russells Point and check the damage on our roller rink. We arrived to find no damage and full power.”
The same could not be said for much of the rest of the area, Moore said, as rescue efforts continued.
“Last night was scary quiet, as many of the crews were gathered at the fire station and municipal building,” she said. “Shelter was being set up at the high school. However, with the darkness, crews struggled to begin search and rescue.”
With their facility spared, the Moores have opened up the roller rink for shelter and respite for those affected.
“We have been here since early morning,” Moore said. “We have had the rink open for anyone in need of a warm place to stay, coffee, water and food. We’ve had several donations of food and water.”
Due to the extent of the damage, the area was still considered an active scene as search and rescue efforts resumed at 9 a.m., according to a second advisory from the sheriff’s office. Crews had been hindered from search efforts due to gas leaks and fallen trees in the overnight hours, according to the Associated Press.
“If you have not been contacted directly to assist from local law enforcement, fire, EMS or the EMA, please avoid the area of Indian Lake,” the advisory read.
“There is more devastation out there than we truly know,” Moore said. “So we are also asking for prayers for our community.”
While Logan County authorities have been receiving a large response from the public offering assistance and donations, the best thing people can do is to stay out of the area for now to allow first responders at the scene to work, according to the EMA. This includes bringing donations of food or clothing to the area, as the infrastructure is currently not in place to receive and distribute them.
Those interested in helping are encouraged by the Logan County EMA to send cash donations to the American Red Cross or the United Way of Logan County, which has set up an Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund. Other organizations have been stepping up to lend a helping hand to those affected. In a post on its Facebook page, the Wapakoneta YMCA announced it would be available to those affected by the storms to use its facilities for a shower, and it would offer hot coffee and respite for affected families. LuLu’s Diner also posted on its Facebook page that all of its locations will be accepting donations of baby supplies, hygiene and cleaning items and more, all of which will be distributed once they are allowed back in.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine visited Logan County on Friday along with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, making an appearance at Indian Lake High School in Lewistown for a briefing.
“We share the grief of the families who lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods,” DeWine said in a statement. “Ohioans will come together as they always do with resilience and compassion as we support and rebuild our communities.”
DeWine also related in the statement that the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to respond to the aftermath of the storm, with staff from the Ohio EPA embedded in the area to assist coordination between county and state agencies. The Ohio Department of Health is also deploying mass fatality supplies as well as a generator to Mary Rutan Hospital and is working with the Logan County Health Department to secure grief counselors for those in need.
Outside of Logan County, St. Marys schools issued a notification Friday morning announcing that all schools will be closed.
“We sincerely hope everyone is safe and [has] a safe weekend,” the notification read.
The St. Marys Police Department advised on its Facebook page Friday morning that people avoid the area of McKinley Road east of Scott Street and Commerce Drive due to downed electric poles.
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, a tornado also touched down near Coldwater, damaging a structure off Skeels Road, while hail was reported near Rockford, causing minor damage to area homes. Hail was also reported near Ottoville in Putnam County and near Jackson Center in Shelby County.
A tornado was also observed in Hancock County at state Route 37 and township Road 168. Significant damage to roofs of homes as well as partially collapsed barns was reported near township Road 29 outside Jenera.
