Indiana, Ohio Residents Begin to Clean Up After Tornado Outbreak, But More Than 200 Remain in Shelters

Ryan Phillips and Sean Breslin
Published: August 27,2016
Residents in two states are cleaning up their damaged homes and neighborhoods following Wednesday's tornado outbreak, but more than 200 people remain in shelters in the town of Kokomo, Indiana, where an EF3 twister hit the town directly.
Some 220 people, mostly from apartment complexes ravaged by the storm, have been staying in temporary shelters since the tornado hit, Kokomo mayor Greg Goodnight told ABC News. Tens of thousands were still without power as of Thursday morning, the report added, and officials said restoring electricity to the town is a priority.
But despite all of the bad news, there was the reminder that the EF3 did not kill a single person, nor was anyone seriously injured in the town.
"It's a miracle and it's a testament to good common sense," Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who visited Kokomo on Thursday, told the Associated Press.
(MORE: Stories of Survival Inside a Flattened Starbucks)
A state of emergency was declared in Howard County, Indiana, after a large, damaging tornado hit the town of Kokomo Wednesday afternoon, flattening a Starbucks and causing significant damage to dozens of homes and businesses. The National Weather Service gave the twister a preliminary rating of EF3 following a damage survey.
In total, at least 10 tornadoes have been confirmed in Indiana from Wednesday's outbreak.
The Indiana State Police said approximately 15 to 20 people suffered minor injuries, mostly as a result of flying debris.
Brad Deane, regional dispatch center manager for the Indiana State Police Region Two, told weather.com in a phone interview that the devastating tornado took a similar path to another tornado that touched down in the area two years ago. The path of the tornado was primarily in the area near the Markland Mall off Reed Road in Kokomo.
"It struck the exact same areas and we are seeing similar damage ... it also moved very slowly," Deane said.

A Starbucks coffee shop at the Markland Mall was flattened by the tornado, and dozens of homes were severely damaged.
Starbucks released a statement following the storm, saying "We are relieved to report all partners (employees) and customers from the Starbucks store at US 35 & SR 22 are safe."
(MORE: Where Severe Weather Could Hit Next)
WTHR-TV interviewed a witness who said he was in a nearby restaurant and witnessed the destruction of the Starbucks. He told the reporter that people were trapped but uninjured after it collapsed.
"It was hellish," he said of the experience.

Multiple tornadoes were reported across central Indiana throughout the afternoon. The NWS said an EF2 tornado touched down east of Crawfordsville.
In Dillman, grain wagons were reportedly lifted 500 feet into the air, landing in a field.
Those looking to help victims of the Kokomo tornado can visit this link to find out more.

Tornadoes Hit Ohio

A home is damaged in Antwerp, Ohio, after a tornado struck the area.
(Criss Hitt)

Jay Carey, a spokesman for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, told weather.com in a phone interview Thursday that only one minor injury had been confirmed close to the town of Defiance, where a mobile home park suffered severe damage about three miles north of the city.
At least 11 tornadoes were confirmed to have hit Wednesday evening in Ohio, and several were responsible for structural damage in western parts of the state.
"We still just have the one minor injury in Hicksville at a trailer park that was hit," Carey said. "There were multiple mobile homes impacted, two looked to be about completely destroyed, and in that area we also had a barn and several outbuildings damaged."
(MORE: Outbreak May Have One of the Most Active August Days on Record)
Carey said five counties reported damage as a result of the widespread storms, including Putnam, Van Wert, Paulding, Henry and Defiance counties.
In Paulding county, Carey said at least seven homes and five barns were severely damaged but said almost all of these counties are rural and not densely populated.
"In Henry County, barns, homes and silos also sustained damaged, and farming is a big here so that hurts," he said. "We also had trees and power lines down across the area."