A potent storm system brought severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to central Indiana Wednesday night. Meteorologists say the atmosphere became ripe for the development of tornadoes as the evening wore on. Storm cells were particularly violent in nature, something not seen in central Indiana in years.
Indiana State Police have specific reports of tornado activity east of Bedford near Brown Station Road and U.S. 50. This is near U.S. 50 and State Road 446. Reports are that several structures have been damaged. Injuries are being reported and hospitals are receiving patients from ambulance and personal transportation vehicles.
State police also have reports of another touchdown of a tornado in Jackson County near the small town of Norman. This is on or along State Road 58 near the Jackson/Lawrence County line.
At least 12 are reported injured and being treated at local hospitals. At this point, the injuries appear to be minor in nature and not life threatening.
State police, local law enforcement, emergency medical services and other civil defense agencies are responding to the area. Currently, 16 state troopers are working the area on the ground searching for injured parties. They are also looking for dangerous area due to power lines being possibly down or objects across the road.
Duke Energy reports 65,000 people without power - REMC reporting 2,500 without power. Duke Energy customers may call 800-343-3525 and REMC customers may call 800 264-7362 to report an electric outage.
Here are some of the local storm reports from the area:
Bartholomew Co.
Columbus, 1.75 inch hail
Clinton Co.
Frankfort, 12 inch diameter tree down across 1763 E and 50 N
Daviess Co.
Odon, 69 MPH winds
Decatur Co.
Greensburg, 70 MPH winds, 4 inch hail, grain bins blown 100 yards, several buildings destroyed at fairgrounds
Jackson Co.
Brownstown, 50 MPH winds, tornado
Johnson Co.
Edinburgh, 60 MPH winds
Lawrence Co.
Bedford, several roads flooded several inches deep, tornado, US 50 is closed between Brown Station Road and State Road 446, pea to baseball size hail
Martin Co.
Loogootee, 70 MPH winds
Monroe Co.
Bloomington, many trees and limbs down, one was 2 feet in diameter at 2nd St. and Wayman, 65 MPH winds, 1.75 inch hail
