3 confirmed dead in Ohio after EF-3 tornado: ‘The Indian Lake community will be back’

LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – Some central Ohio residents are left to pick up the pieces after a severe storm tore through counties Thursday night, including multiple possible tornado touch downs.

A press conference with the Logan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed three people are dead as of Friday morning.

During the conference, Sheriff Randall Dodds said searches Thursday night and Friday morning turned over three known fatalities.

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At this time, the names of the deceased have not been released.

A trail of destruction ripped through Indian Lake in Logan County, and Ohio Gov. DeWine, along with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, toured the area and spoke with the residents there.

Officials said about 1,700 structures there were checked for people who may have been hurt.

DeWine thanked the first responders and community for looking out for one another. Husted spoke about neighbors bringing out chainsaws and generators to help.

“The Indian Lake community will be back…” DeWine said. “We are coming back.”

Tornado warnings were issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for several Northeast Ohio counties including Huron, Richland, Ashland, Wayne, and Medina.

People in Logan County recalled taking cover in their crawl space just moments before the tornado swarmed, Husted said during the press conference at Indian Lake High School.

As of Friday afternoon, the NWS has confirmed four tornadoes touched down Thursday night in Ohio:

• EF-2 tornado in Logan County (later upgraded to EF-3)
• EF-2 tornado in Crawford/Richland counties
• EF-1 tornado in Hancock County
• EF-1 tornado in Licking County

In Richland County, residents reported major damage to homes and downed power lines and trees.

During a press conference, Richland County EMA Director Rebecca Owens said three buildings were damaged by the tornado, but no livestock or people were harmed.

Owens said two steers and some goats were in a barn that was leveled by the storm.

In central Ohio, significant damage has been reported across multiple counties.

The National Weather Service Cleveland posted online Thursday night about a half-mile wide tornado in Huron County.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office says they started receiving reports of storm damages around 7:48 p.m. Thursday in the Santa Fe area.

“The storm continued East over Lakeview and Midway area causing heavy damage to property,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release. “The storm continued East over Russell’s Point and Orchard Island.”

Donations can be brought to Indian Lakes High School through 5 p.m. Friday. They will start accepting again at 10 a.m. Saturday. The sheriff’s office is asking for batteries, trash bags, work gloves, toiletries and paper products.

Richland County Emergency Management Agency Director Rebecca Owens told 19 News reporter Michelle Nicks five homes were damaged in the storm near the Village of Plymouth on Route 598 and West Road.

Storm debris littered several nearby fields and was caught in tops of trees in the area.

One home had parts of its roof blown off. Several cars turned on their sides and a camper that was destroyed beyond recognition.

This is a developing story. Check back with 19 News for the latest information.

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