Officials from the National Weather Service have ruled that an EF-2 tornado touched down in central Union County on Thursday evening causing significant damage to the area in and around Broadway. One Road in Union County remains closed as crews work to remove wires and shore utility lines and poles. Above, crews work to restore utilities and repair storm-damaged infrastructure on Route 739 west of Broadway.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell)
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The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-2 tornado touched down Thursday evening in Union County.
Crews from the National Weather Service (NWS) were in Union County Friday afternoon. That evening the weather service confirmed it was a tornado that damaged a nearly 10-mile path in central Union County.
Brad Gilbert, director of the Union County Emergency Management Agency, spent much of Thursday evening and Friday morning surveying damage in the area and said the NWS conclusion was “no surprise.”
The NWS said “multiple supercell thunderstorms developed over Indiana, producing numerous tornadoes across western and central Ohio.”
“NWS Wilmington Ohio is investigating damage reports that extend for a total of over 120 miles,” according to a statement from the weather service.
The NWS rated the tornado an EF-2, meaning it was a “significant” storm in the “strong” class with winds between 111 miles per hour and 135 miles per hour.
The area in and around Broadway saw high winds, hail and hard rain.
Gilbert said NWS survey crews look at the path of the storm, examine the damage and evaluate the size of the debris field left after the storm.
Weather service officials said that as the storm survey and assessment process continues, additional details will be provided “over the next few days.”
As of Monday, Gilbert said he was still driving around the county to document the damage. According to his estimate, 45 buildings in the county were damaged, 13 of which were destroyed or saw “significant damage” as a result of the storms.
He is asking homeowners with damage, particularly those who are uninsured for the damage, to contact his office at (937) 645-3174.
“We need to make sure we are able to track that damage at our office,” Gilbert said.
Marita Salkowski, with the American Red Cross, said any homeowner that needs assistance, has damage or knows of a neighbor with damage should contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS.
Gilbert said county and township officials along with volunteers have been busy in the area.
“Pretty much all the downed trees, at least the ones across roads or alleys or driveways, are cleaned up,” Gilbert said.
He said that as of Monday afternoon, all the roads and streets in Union County, except Patrick-Brush Run Road are open.
Gilbert said Patrick-Brush Run Road still has downed utility lines that could be dangerous for traffic. He said he hopes that road is reopened by today.
“A lot of people came to Broadway and the surrounding areas to pitch in and help clean up,” Gilbert said, noting that pickup trucks, trailers, dumpsters and a variety of equipment was brought to the area to help clear debris.
Union County was one of 11 counties statewide where Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency on Sunday.
“We currently don’t need any, but if we needed assistance from the state, it allows state resources to be available,” Gilbert said. “If we needed something, we could ask for it and get it.”
In addition to Union County, the governor declared an emergency in Auglaize, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Hancock, Licking, Logan, Mercer, Miami and Richland counties.
Officials from the National Weather Service have said that while there are no plans for surveys in other areas, staff will continue to assess information provided by local and state officials as well as local weather spotters. They have said the process is expected to take “several days.”
According to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, the declaration issued Sunday orders all relevant state departments and agencies to “lend their services, equipment, supplies and personnel as necessary to assist in the response and recovery effort.”