Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, May 26, 2011
(BEDFORD) - Lawrence County officials are asking for as much help as possible from surrounding counties following at least one tornado touchdown.
At least 12 people have suffered minor injuries. Police have confirmed that the tornado was just east of Bedford near 446.
Some local residents in the area have reported seeing possible tornadoes in two places. One near State Road 37 and the other near highway 50 east of Bedford.
Damage reports pouring into the State Department of Homeland Security this morning following a rough night of storms in central and southern Indiana.
John Erickson with Homeland Security says there were at least 40 tornado sightings Wednesday night.
Several homes and farm structures were damaged from the storms as well. U.S. 50 was later closed between Brown Station Road and State Road 446 due to storm debris in the area.
At least a dozen people were injured but none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. There were no deaths. Monroe and Lawrence counties were the hardest hit areas.
For recent photos of storm damage, please visit WBIW's Facebook page.
Downed Trees Cause Property Damage On The IU Campus
Property damage reports continue to stream in from the City of Bloomington. Areas affected include, but are not limited to, the area near the Sample Gates on Indiana Avenue on the IU campus. Eyewitnesses have reported property damage, including downed lightposts and trees down in front of both the Student Building and the Indiana Memorial Union. Other structures on or near campus have sightings of property damage. Trees have also been reported to be down along Kirkwood Avenue. Cleanup crews have begun working on clearing the debris and assessing the damage.
Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity Offers Help
Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity is reaching out to those in need. If you need some assistance moving limbs or clearing brush or deconstruction of a place, call Habitat at 849-2700.
Loss Of Power
Many Duke Energy customers (statewide) are still in dark this morning. 70,000 were reported at height of the storms. Columbus, Bloomington and Terre Haute have the most outages.
There is no estimated time of power restoration due to the widespread outages. Duke Energy is still assessing the damage. Duke Energy is expected to bring in crews from the Carolinas to help restore power.
For more power outage information, please visit Duke Energy's website.
Given the scope of the known damages, Jackson County REMC is now anticipating that the restoration work will extend through Friday and perhaps Saturday. Outside crews from northern Indiana have joined the effort so that service can be restored as quickly as possible.
Mobile Homes Destroyed
Some of the worst damage from Wednesday night's severe weather is being reported in Monroe County.
Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Comerford confirms that about six mobile homes were destroyed when tornado-like winds roared through the county. Five to eight people inside the trailers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Round 2 Of Storms Hits Hard
The listening area was struck with a line of severe storms this past Monday. Many listeners reported storm damage on Monday evening. Cleanup efforts began on Tuesday afternoon and continued on Wednesday before another wave of storms struck the area.
Report Storm Damage
If you have any personal accounts or photos of storm damage, please email them to news@wbiw.com
More information as this story develops.
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