Residents Cleaning Up After Tornado Hits Area

Last updated on Thursday, March 2, 2017

(MITCHELL) - Residents along Old Ind. 60 West continue to clean up the damage from a tornado that hit the area Wednesday morning.

"One home was destroyed and several [were] damaged," says Joseph Matlock in an email. "Cars were crushed, one barn lost a roof and another collapsed. In the house destroyed, one young man got out of his bed less than five seconds before the ceiling fell on it."

The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down about seven miles southeast of Mitchell Wednesday morning.

According to a NWS report, an EF-2 tornado hit at 5:37 a.m. with a maximum wind speed of 130 mph. It was estimated to be 25 yards wide and traveled for 0.58 miles.

Marion Township Firefighters rushed to a home at 7000 Suddath Lane after a report a home had collapsed and a person was trapped in a closet.

"While en-route Orange County advised the subjects were out of the house and no longer trapped," says Marion Chief Paul Gillespie. "However they did advise there were numerous houses damaged with multiple entrapments possible."

"All residences we made contact with were uninjured," Chief Gillespie added. "Crews checked residences north of Suddath Lane all the way to Tunnelton Bono Road and couldn't find anymore victims or entrapments.

Lawrence County Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer says some turkey barns and mobile homes were damaged around the Thralls Road area.

There were home and other structures damage in the Middle Leesville Road area and along State Road 60 East.

Police officer, high way crews, energy companies and volunteer firefighters from various fire departments all rushed to the area to help. The American Red Cross was also alerted to help families with emergency shelter.

The following are entries from the Lawrence County Police Department log:

3:53 p.m. High water on DNR Road, off VFW Road
2:01 p.m. Low hanging wires across the roadway in the 770 block of Tripleton Pike
9:28 a.m. Report that the road was washing away on Back Creek Road, just off U.S. 50
8:23 a.m. High water reported on Mill Creek Road near the bridge and Sowders Bottoms
8:03 a.m. A house was struck by lightening in the 1010 block of Tripleton Pike. Indian Creek VFD responded
7:53 a.m. Storm damage to a house in the 1380 block of Ind. 60 West
7:31 a.m. Top of a house blew off and a barn was blown over in the 1380 block of Old Ind. 60 West. No one was injured
7:27 a.m. Report of a school bus stuck on the road under down power lines on Middle Leesville Road, near the bridge. There was only one child on the bus. Firefighters and Jackson County REMC responded. There were no injuries. The road was then closed because of the number of downed trees and power lines
7:20 a.m. A bus was stuck at the intersection of Poor Farm and Tunnelton roads
7 a.m. Tree and power lines down on top of a home with the residents trapped inside in the 4750 block of Old Farm Road. An IU Health Hospital, Perry VFD and Duke Energy responded. There were no injuries
6:18 a.m. A family was stuck in a closet after their home collapsed in the 700 block of Suddarth Lane. Marion VFD and an AMR ambulance responded. Orange County Rural District II was close and responded freeing the family. No one was injured
6:14 a.m. Tree in the roadway on Ind. 60 East
6 a.m. Trees down in the roadway at the Fayetteville Store
6 a.m. Trees down on U.S. 50 West and Watson Merry Road and Old Ind. 60 West
5:59 a.m. A tree fell on a home in the 1650 block of Middle Leesville Road
5:53 a.m. A tree fell on a home in the 30 block of Williams Street
5:48 a.m. Home turned over at the Orange County line
5:30 a.m. Trees down on U.S. 50 West and Watson Merry Road and Old Ind. 60 West
5:30 a.m. Trampoline and power lines in the roadway on Ind. 60 East at Meridian Road
5:19 a.m. Utility pole fire in the 1010 block of North Pike Road. Oolitic and Marshall VFDs responded
5:18 a.m. Power lines down on a car port and vehicles in the 4800 block of Old Farm Road
5:14 a.m. Tree in the roadway at both ends of River Road at Tunnelton and Fort Ritner roads
4:41 a.m. Trees and power lines down on Blue Bird Pie Road
4:24 a.m. Trees down on Tunnelton Road, south of Duncan Hill Lane
3:04 a.m. Tree in power lines on Mill Creek Road
2:46 a.m. tree and utility pole in the roadway on Hickory Grove and Henderson Creek roads. Jackson County REMC responded
2:40 a.m. Tree limbs down on Oak and 6th streets
2:32 a.m. Tree limbs down at First Street and Grissom Avenue
2:11 a.m. Tree limbs down on North Meridian Road, north of Ind. 60
1:42 a.m. A vehicle was stalled in high water on Lawrenceport Road, south of Mill Creek Road
1:34 a.m. Tree limbs in the road on Tunnelton and South Leatherwood roads
1:26 a.m. High water reported on Tunnelton and Leesville roads

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

Click here to go back to previous page