INDIANA—The National Weather Service (NWS) has completed its damage assessments following the severe storms that ravaged Southern Indiana Friday night and Saturday morning. The assessments reveal a significant regional impact, particularly in Orleans and Lawrence counties.
In Orleans, the storm’s aftermath has left a substantial cleanup effort ahead. Residents are urged to bring storm-related debris, including limbs and yard waste, to the brush pile at the Town Lake area. The gate will be unlocked for the next several days, exclusively for Orleans citizens. Only limbs, brush, and yard debris will be accepted, and the area is under 24/7 monitoring.
“The damage in Orleans is extensive, and we appreciate the community’s cooperation in the cleanup efforts,” stated a local official. “Using the designated brush pile, we can efficiently manage the debris and restore our town.”
Orleans residents with storm debris may take the brush to the Town Garage, where a large dumpster has been set up for residential use. The dumpster will be set up Sunday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday. Town crews and contractors will be collecting brush today until 4:00 p.m.
The National Weather Service reported a tornado that touched down in Jackson County. The report indicates the tornado traveled about 2.2 miles.
The tornado started at 5:14 a.m. and ended around 5:17 a.m. The tornado was spotted about five miles southeast of Brownstown.
The NWS report indicates the tornado ripped the roof off a mobile home near East County Road 500 South and South Base Road. The storm also caused the mobile home’s walls to collapse.
The tornado damaged barns on South County Road 300 East. Its peak wind speeds were 105 mph.
Three EF-2 tornadoes, with wind speeds ranging from 115 to 120 mph, were confirmed in Gibson and Pike counties. The tornado that started in Pike County also crossed into rural Daviess County.
Additionally, EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed, one in Parke County near Mecca (110 mph). Late Saturday night, even more tornadoes were confirmed in Lake County, with EF-1 and EF-0 tornados hitting Cedar Lake, Schererville, and Merrillville, respectively.
While Lawrence County dealt with power outages and fallen trees, Orleans experienced a more concentrated impact. Duke Energy reported that approximately 26,000 customers statewide were without power at some point during the storm’s peak. Crews are continuing to work to restore power to all affected areas, especially in Lawrence and Orange Counties.
Crews continue with damage assessments and restoration, and Duke Energy anticipates most customers will have power restored by midnight on Sunday. However, given the damage in some Lawrence and Orange County locations, some customers may not be restored until today. Crews will continue working as quickly and safely as possible to restore customers’ power.
The NWS findings underscore the robust nature of the storms, and residents are reminded to stay vigilant and prepared for future severe weather events.
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