Indian Lake, Ohio – A destructive storm system swept through western Ohio on Thursday night, unleashing a suspected tornado that proved fatal. The storm also spawned apparent twisters in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, leaving a trail of destruction and power outages affecting tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
In Ohio, the suspected tornado struck near the southern end of Indian Lake, resulting in at least two confirmed deaths, with the possibility of more casualties. Logan County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joe Kpous reported heavy damage in areas such as Lakeview, Midway, Orchard Island, and Russells Point.
Multiple buildings were damaged in the Indian Lake area, with the full extent of the destruction still being assessed. The village of Lakeview, as described by Amber Fagan, president and chief executive of the Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, was severely impacted, with homes, campgrounds, and a laundromat among the structures damaged.
In Huron County, Ohio, emergency management officials reported a “confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado” near Plymouth, approximately 75 miles northeast of Indian Lake. At the same time, another tornado tore through Winchester, Indiana, causing significant injuries and damage.
In Winchester, Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter reported numerous injuries but stated there were no known fatalities at that time. Indiana Task Force One was deployed to assist with search efforts in the town of Winchester, which suffered extensive damage.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb acknowledged the impact of severe weather across the state, with emergency response personnel actively engaged in affected areas. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and local agencies were coordinating efforts to respond to the storm’s aftermath.
Reports of tornado damage also surfaced in Kentucky, where Trimble County Emergency Management Director Andrew Stark confirmed damage to at least 50 structures, including homes. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear noted a tornado touching down along the Indiana state border, urging residents to remain vigilant as additional storms were forecasted for the region.
As the Midwest braced for more severe weather, emergency operations centers were activated to coordinate responses and assess the extent of damage. The storms left a trail of destruction in their wake, prompting communities to rally together in the face of adversity.