Indy 500 race fans, in portions of Milford and Syracuse who opted to watch the 100th race from home never saw the finish Sunday afternoon.
Strong straight line winds and heavy rains pelted the area leaving many without power ranging from several hours to more than 12 hours.
Rain, followed by winds that would uproot and down trees and limbs of all sizes and break utility poles, hit the Milford area around 3:40 p.m. making its way to Syracuse within a few minutes. The area was under a tornado warning prior to the storm converging on the area. No tornados were reported locally, however, two EF1 tornadoes were confirmed in Michigan.
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Northern Indiana, reported 94 mile per hour winds 750 feet above ground level in the area.
Damage reports began coming in to the Kosciusko County Communications Center around 4 p.m. when the weather had broken and damage could be assessed. Approximately 40 calls were received from officers, fire personnel and a few private individuals reporting damage between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Reports came in of trees across the roadway and taking down power lines, while in other areas large trees down were reported from west of Milford to a few reports on Eli Lilly Road east of Syracuse and in Enchanted Hills. A few reports of transformers sparking were reported in the Barbee Lake area.
Extensive damage occurred at the Tracy and DeAnn Beer home on Gravelton Road, just north of CR 1350N. The south side of the barn roof was peeled off and the attached pole barn torn apart damaging a semi - tractor and Camaro. A few shingles and siding on their home were also removed.
The south side of the barn roof was also blown off at Rob and Tami Brooks, CR 100E, Milford. Just south of the farm and south of CR 1300N an irrigation system was twisted and blown out onto the roadway.
In Milford and Syracuse trees fell on or near several homes and streets, some bringing down power lines or pulling electrical lines from the homes. A number of vehicles were also found under trees or tree branches.
Emergency personnel were called to two homes - one on Eastshore Drive and another on Northshore Drive - where trees fell onto the homes, but no one was injured. They also found North Eastshore drive, from Northshore to the north county line road was impassable. The road was covered with downed trees and power lines.
South and north of Milford on Old SR 15 a number of utility poles were broken off or leaning.
A number of calls were received of wires arcing and transformers sparking, however, no damage was caused.
There were a few tense moments when a group of teenagers were thought to have been caught on Lake Wawasee during the storm. A water rescue was being organized, however, the teens were found safe.
The area did skirt a second severe storm Tuesday evening. |
