INDIANA—On Sunday, March 30th, Indiana was battered by a line of severe storms, resulting in two fatalities, widespread damage, and numerous power outages. The storms triggered tornado warnings across the state and brought high winds, hail, and torrential rain, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Tragic Fatalities and Severe Wind Damage
The storms claimed two lives in northern Indiana. In Valparaiso, a 34-year-old man from Ontario, Canada, died when his semi-truck was overturned by winds reported as high as 80 mph. In Elkhart County, another person was killed when strong winds blew over an Amish buggy on State Road 13 near Millersburg. Additionally, a person was injured when a mobile home was demolished in Donaldson, Marshall County.
The powerful winds caused significant damage throughout the state. Bartholomew County Sheriff Chris Lane shared photos of downed power lines and trees, indicating the severity of the storm’s impact. In Brown County, particularly near the west entrance of Brown County State Park, trees were stripped of their tops and toppled. National Weather Service personnel are set to investigate the damage in Brown and Bartholomew counties on Monday.
Widespread Damage and Power Outages
The storms resulted in over 300 reports of wind and hail damage across Indiana. Reports included metal roof panels being ripped from buildings, barns and silos sustaining structural damage, and billboards being destroyed. In Rochester, a radio tower was downed, and a metal outbuilding lost its roof and a wall. In North Judson, large sections of the roof were blown off St. Peter Lutheran Church and School.
The high winds also led to widespread power outages. At one point, over 114,000 Hoosier electricity customers were without power. Duke Energy reported numerous outages throughout the day, with numbers fluctuating as crews worked to restore service.
Tornado Warnings and Severe Weather Events
Throughout Sunday afternoon and evening, the National Weather Service issued numerous tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings for various counties across the state. These warnings prompted residents to seek shelter as the storms moved eastward.
Pea-sized to inch-sized hail was reported in several areas, including Indianapolis International Airport and Terre Haute. The storms also caused a significant temperature drop in their wake. A semi-truck was overturned on I-65 near State Road 18, highlighting the dangerous driving conditions caused by the high winds.
Ongoing Assessments and Recovery Efforts
The National Weather Service will conduct damage assessments in Brown, Bartholomew, and potentially Monroe counties on Monday. Recovery efforts are underway to restore power and clear debris from roadways and properties.
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