Massive storm system hits 3 U.S. states, at least 2 deaths reported

The Associated Press

· Posted: Mar 15, 2024 7:36 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Police successful Ohio confirmed 2 deaths resulting from a fierce large wind strategy that unleashed suspected twisters and damaged homes and businesses successful parts of Ohio and Kentucky connected Thursday.

Chief Deputy Joe Kopus of nan Logan County Sheriff's Office successful Bellefontaine, Ohio, confirmed nan fatalities successful an email to The Associated Press early Friday. He said location apt would beryllium much fatalities discovered, noting location was dense harm successful Lakeview, Midway, Orchard Island and Russells Point.

The Indiana State Police said location are "many important injuries" aft a tornado tore done nan organization of Winchester.

Many injuries: police commander

"There person been many, galore important injuries, but I don't cognize nan number. I don't cognize wherever they are. I don't cognize what those injuries are," Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter told reporters conscionable earlier midnight Thursday. "There's a batch that we don't cognize yet."

Earlier successful nan night, authorities constabulary said they were investigating reports of deaths, but astatine nan news convention Carter said location were "no known fatalities."

State officials called connected Indiana Task Force One to thief pinch hunt efforts successful Winchester, a municipality of 4,700 group located astir 112 kilometres northeast of Indianapolis, according to a station by nan rescue squad connected X. The squad is 1 of 28 Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency-sponsored Urban Search and Rescue teams successful nan United States.

"I'm shaken; it's overwhelming," Winchester Mayor Bob McCoy said. "I heard what sounded for illustration a train and past I started proceeding sirens."

He and his woman were hunkered successful a closet during nan twister, which deed astir 8 p.m. section time.

"I've ne'er heard that sound before; I don't want to perceive it again," McCoy said.

Travel restricted

The suspected tornado damaged a Walmart shop and a Taco Bell successful Winchester, Randolph County Sheriff Art Moystner told FOX59/CBS4. Travel passim nan region is restricted to emergency guidance workers only, he said.

To nan westbound of Winchester, successful Delaware County, emergency guidance officials said first assessments suggested up to half of nan structures successful nan mini municipality of Selma, Ohio, were damaged by a imaginable tornado.

"We are relieved to study that only insignificant injuries person been reported frankincense far, pinch 1 individual transported to nan infirmary for treatment," nan Delaware County Emergency Management Agency said successful a news release. About 750 group unrecorded successful Selma.

At astir nan aforesaid clip arsenic nan tornado deed Winchester, different suspected twister touched down about 120 kilometres to nan eastbound successful Logan County, Ohio. The tornado deed adjacent nan confederate extremity of Indian Lake, impacting nan villages of Lakeview and Russells Point, region spokesperson Sheri Timmers said.

"As acold arsenic we know, we person tons of injuries. We don't cognize nan grade of nan injuries," Timmers said. "An RV parkland was impacted."

Multiple buildings successful nan Indian Lake area were damaged, but nan afloat grade of nan demolition was still being assessed arsenic emergency crews searched nan area, Timmers said.

'Completely demolished'

Amber Fagan, president and main executive of nan Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, said Lakeview was "completely demolished," pinch homes, campgrounds and a laundromat hard-hit by nan tornado.

"There's places burning," she said. "There's powerfulness lines done people's windows."

A shelter was opened for displaced people. In Ohio's Huron County, emergency guidance officials posted connected Facebook that location was a "confirmed ample and highly vulnerable tornado" adjacent Plymouth, immoderate 75 miles (120 kilometers) northeast of Indian Lake.