“It’s quite a mess up there”, Local Officials talk Sunday Storms

By: Corbin Lingenfelter, News Director

Martin Co.- On Sunday, sunny skies turned dark and with it brought severe weather.

Martin County saw damage around the county with trees and powerlines being toppled by winds and an unconfirmed tornado.

“It's going to take a while to get the trees off the roads,” said Martin County EMA’s Monty Wolf, “It’s quite a mess up there.”

One individual did lose their life and another suffered severe injuries as a result of the storms. Their identities are being withheld to allow the family time to grieve, said Wolf. 

The National Weather Service has yet to fully confirm it was a tornado that swept through the county, but Wolf shared with the damage that was done, he is certain it was. 

Reports of softball sized hail were made by authorities. The Indiana State Police- Jasper Post shared photos of back windshields smashed, with almost no glass left intact. Property damage was reported as well.

The Historic West Baden Springs Hotel was forced to close its Atrium due to hail damage on the dome. The closure is indefinite according to a spokesperson.

In Dubois County, only the northeastern portion saw significant severe weather. However, sirens across the county rang alerting citizens of impending weather.

“In Dubois County, the sirens sound county wide,” said Dubois County EMA director Tammy Humbert, “It doesn’t make a difference where the storm system is.”

Humbert suggests citizens purchase NOAA Weather Radios to be prepared for emergency weather situations like those on Sunday. The Radios will send an alert and inform the listener where severe weather may be at or heading. 

Photos and evidence from the Northeastern portion of Dubois County and areas of Martin County were submitted to the National Weather Service for confirmation of the possible tornado and its classification. A time table was not specified on when those could come.