Tornadoes Do “Crazy Damage” In Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio – Steve and Rebecca get the latest on Portland’s Morning News from our Alpha Media Sister Station WROU in Dayton, Ohio and Program Director Faith Daniels
(CBS NEWS) A series of confirmed and suspected tornadoes ripped through Ohio’s Miami Valley Monday night, causing injuries and widespread damage and leaving tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the dark. The funnels were packed so closely together that one crossed the path carved by another and kicked up debris so thick it was seen on radar.
Montgomery County@MCOhioA large, dangerous tornado touched down last night in northwest Montgomery County, we are focused on supporting life saving measures, such as shutting down gas lines or locating people who are trapped by debris. Call 911 or contact your local fire station for emergency assistance
The City of Dayton tweeted that, “Due to the widespread power outages we are asking all Dayton and Montgomery County Customers to conserve water. We have lost power to both water plants and pump stations. First Responders are performing search and rescue operations and debris clearing.”
Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein told reporters Tuesday morning the city had issued a boil water alert, adding that generators were being brought in to try to get pump stations back online.
Dayton Fire Chief Jeff Payne said people had to be pulled form some buildings overnight but only three were injured, none seriously. More thorough searches were being conducted Tuesday.
Numerous roads were closed, including the southbound lanes of Interstate 75, where the Ohio Department of Transportation was using snow plows to remove debris.
Sean Cudahy@SCudahyWHIOSeveral shelters were set up.
In Greene County, Beavercreek schools Superintendent Paul Otten said his neighborhood has “crazy damage.”
“We have downed power lines, but the biggest thing we’re seeing is that there are trees just gone,” Otten told WHIO.
In Dayton, the roof was torn off a building constructed in 1944. Telephone poles were down. A WHIO viewer said he saw transformers sparking and burning.
Sean Cudahy@SCudahyWHIOJust spoke with a family whose house was destroyed. They say their whole house is “shot.” Had lived there for decades. But everyone made it out safely @whiotv @WHIORadio
Police in Celina, in Mercer County, were stopping people from entering the city due to live wires on the ground and severe damage.
A barn that was in a field in Miami County is gone, Linda Taylor said, as is part of her home’s roof.
An Indiana town was also heavily damaged by storms, including reports of two tornadoes Monday. But Emergency Management spokesman Todd Harmeson said Tuesday morning that, “We do not know at this time if this was a tornado, straight-line winds or what the cause was” of damage in Pendleton, 35 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
The tornadoes were the latest in a cycle of dangerous storms hitting the nation’s midsection that forecasters say won’t stop anytime soon. Tornadoes struck again Monday in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.
In the past week, at least 15 people have been killed by tornadoes and flooding.
Rivers were rising to record levels, threatening homes and businesses in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.
Drone video showed the scope of the historic flooding along the Arkansas River near Fort Smith, with neighborhoods and cars submerged. And the worst is yet to come.
The river is expected to crest Wednesday — a historic 20 feet above flood stage. Residents aren’t just worried about keeping the water out. Barling Police Oofficer James Breeden said they’re keeping an eye on the levees. “They’ve never been tested to this limit before,” Breeden told CBS News.
Over the weekend, an EF-3 tornado packing winds up to 165 mph, cut through El Reno, Oklahoma, where it killed two people and injured more than 25 others.