Logan County, Ohio, Grapples with Mass Casualty Response Following Tornadoes
For the second consecutive week, severe storms and likely tornadoes swept through Ohio on Thursday night, prompting the issuance of 20 tornado warnings across the state.
The storms resulted in what officials are describing as a "mass casualty event" at a trailer park located at Indian Lake in Logan County, approximately 70 miles northwest of Columbus. However, a representative from the county's Emergency Management Agency informed the Associated Press that there have been no confirmed fatalities.
"We experienced a tornado touchdown here in Logan County. Damage has occurred and is currently being assessed. Our teams are actively evaluating the situation," the spokesperson stated to the AP.
Y’all pray for the folks of Indian Lake… cops said I missed the tornado by about two minutes… pic.twitter.com/ITY3f6gkjF
— Ole #CBJ Dad (@CBJ_Dad0424) March 15, 2024
Source: Twitter/CBJ_Dad0424
WBNS in Columbus stated that numerous structures were demolished at Indian Lake, with the area experiencing "significant damage."
The Emergency Management Agency (EMA) verified to The Dispatch that a trailer park near Indian Lake, just north of Lakeview, was hit by either a tornado or extremely strong winds, resulting in extensive damage. Additionally, the community reported a lack of ambulances available.
A spokesperson from the National Weather Service (NWS) stated that they couldn't verify if a tornado hit the community, but acknowledged receiving "reports of extensive damage."
The severe storms in Ohio were part of a broader system that swept through the Midwest, starting in the afternoon and continuing into the evening.
The NWS offices in Wilmington and Cleveland issued a total of 20 tornado warnings, as per their review of social media posts. This count excludes various other alerts, including those for thunderstorms.
Snow plows being used to remove trees from roadways in Logan County this evening. pic.twitter.com/DyccgTfTVZ
— Matt Bruning (@mbruning81) March 15, 2024
Source: Twitter/Matt Bruning
AEP Ohio indicated that as of 11:30 p.m., approximately 12,000 customers were without electricity, with 8,500 of them located in Delaware County north of Columbus, where a tornado warning had been issued around 9 p.m. First Energy reported 3,000 power outages in northern Ohio.
In a social media update at 11:27 p.m., the Ohio Emergency Management Agency stated that volunteers were not required at the "active" scene.
Meanwhile, The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that at least three tornadoes had been confirmed in southern Indiana and north-central Kentucky on Thursday afternoon, resulting in significant damage to numerous structures.
Tornado Warnings Issued by Wilmington NWS Amidst Severe Storms in Ohio
- Tornado Warning including Celina, Coldwater, and Rockford until 7:15 p.m.
- Tornado Warning including Wapakoneta, Saint Marys, and Cridersville until 7:30 p.m.
- Tornado Warning continues for Wapakoneta, Saint Marys, and Cridersville until 7:30 p.m.
- Tornado Warning including Wapakoneta, Jackson Center, and Russells Point until 8 p.m.
- Tornado Warning including Bellefontaine, Russells Point, and Belle Center OH until 8:30 p.m.
- Warning including Greenville, Union City IN, and Union City until 8:30 p.m.
- Tornado Warning including Delaware, Richwood, and West Mansfield until 9 p.m.
- Tornado Warning including Greenville, Versailles, and Covington until 9 p.m.
- Tornado Warning including Troy, Piqua, and Covington until 9:15 p.m.
- Warning including Delaware, Sunbury, and Galena until 9:45 p.m.
- Warning including Newark, Granville, and Johnstown until 10:15 p.m.
- Warning including Urbana, Saint Paris, and Fletcher until 10 p.m.
- Warning including Mechanicsburg, Woodstock, and Mutual until 10:15 p.m.
Tornado Alerts Issued by Cleveland NWS During Ohio Storms
- Tornado Warning including Wadsworth, Orrville, and Rittman until 9:30 p.m.
- Tornado Warning including Bucyrus, Crestline, and New Washington until 9:15 p.m.
- Tornado Warning including Ashland, Willard, and Plymouth until 9 p.m.
- Tornado Warning including Upper Sandusky, Carey, and Arlington until 8:30 p.m.
- Warning including Willard, Plymouth, and Greenwich until 8:15 p.m.
- Warning including Tiffin, Carey, and New Washington until 7:45 p.m.
- Warning including Findlay, McComb, and Arcadia until 7:15 p.m.
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