nappanee tornado

WSBT/SBT24/7News) Nappanee Police Chief Mike Anglin reports a tornado was spotted Thursday night near Indiana 19 and County Road 1350 North.

It touched down and caused extensive damage and injuries. Anglin said injuries are minor at this time, but did include several people who were trapped in their homes when the tornado hit. Injured individuals were taken to area hospitals. At this time there are no fatalities, Anglin said.

Mayor Larry Thompson and city commissioners issued a tornado emergency. People are being asked to stay off the streets. Businesses are being asked to remain closed, as the town is without power.

A boil water order is in place until further notice.

According to a press release issued Friday morning, U.S. 6 from S.R. 15 to S.R. 19 is closed due to "downed power lines and massive amounts of debris." State Road 19 is also closed from C.R. 46 to 1350 North in Kosciusko County.

As of approximately 9 a.m., NIPSCO estimates that more than 4,000 homes are still without power and 1,000 homes have recently been restored. According to the Nappanee Police Department, it may be several days before all power is restored.

Anglin believes all of the city's residents are accounted for.

"We're getting ready to start an extensive search," he said.

The search would begin while additional manpower was still available. Emergency responders are coming from Wakarusa, northwest Elkhart City and Elkhart County, Bremen and Plymouth.

"We basically pretty much shut down Nappanee," Anglin said.

NIPSCO is on the scene, and there are several gas leaks across the city which are being monitored at this time.

Anglin said he believed that lives were spared because the city was prepared.

"We ran drills, and had set up plans. We had shelters open before the storms even hit," he said. "I think by us sounding sirens as soon as we did we had a jump on the tornado."

Nappanee Missionary Church, 70417 State Road 19, is the location designated for family and friends seeking shelter.

Anyone in need of assistance should call the American Red Cross at (574) 293-6519 or the Hope Crisis Response Network at (866) 909-4673. In case of emergency call 911.

Indiana State Police are expected to provide additional information at a press conference at 11 a.m. NAPPANEE, Ind. ― A suspected tornado damaged several businesses and homes and knocked out power and water service to much of this northern Indiana city.


The Thursday night storm also sent five people to hospitals with what police said where minor injuries.
Nappanee officials declared a state of emergency, asking people in the city about 20 miles southeast of South Bend to stay indoors and all businesses were asked to stay closed today.

Downed power lines and debris from the storm, which hit about 10:30 p.m., prompted authorities to close parts of U.S. 6 and Indiana 19.

A National Weather Service survey team on Friday was checking for tornado damage along a storm field that stretches 15 miles from southwest of Nappanee to near Goshen.

"I would say it was pretty likely there was a tornado in Nappanee," said Michael Sabones, meteorologist-in-charge of the weather service's northern Indiana office in Syracuse.

Sabones said no other major storm damage was reported elsewhere in northern Indiana.

Hail hit counties in northern, central and southern Indiana. Officials in Pulaski County say golf-ball-sized hail damaged a car.

The same storm system caused scattered damage elsewhere in Indiana and tornadoes touched down in Kentucky and Michigan.

Trees and power lines were blown down from a storm cell that passed between Lafayette and Indianapolis, causing damage in the towns of Frankfort and Advance.

Several trees were toppled near the southern Indiana city of Bedford, police reported. Wind speeds reached 80 mph at the Ohio River town of New Amsterdam, according to the weather service. There were also reports of small hail accompanying the storms.
NAPPANEE, Ind. ?A suspected tornado damaged several businesses and homes and knocked out power and water service to much of this northern Indiana city.


The Thursday night storm also sent five people to hospitals with what police said where minor injuries.
Nappanee officials declared a state of emergency, asking people in the city about 20 miles southeast of South Bend to stay indoors and all businesses were asked to stay closed today.

Downed power lines and debris from the storm, which hit about 10:30 p.m., prompted authorities to close parts of U.S. 6 and Indiana 19.

A National Weather Service survey team on Friday was checking for tornado damage along a storm field that stretches 15 miles from southwest of Nappanee to near Goshen.

� would say it was pretty likely there was a tornado in Nappanee,?said Michael Sabones, meteorologist-in-charge of the weather service� northern Indiana office in Syracuse.

Sabones said no other major storm damage was reported elsewhere in northern Indiana.

Hail hit counties in northern, central and southern Indiana. Officials in Pulaski County say golf-ball-sized hail damaged a car.

The same storm system caused scattered damage elsewhere in Indiana and tornadoes touched down in Kentucky and Michigan.

Trees and power lines were blown down from a storm cell that passed between Lafayette and Indianapolis, causing damage in the towns of Frankfort and Advance.

Several trees were toppled near the southern Indiana city of Bedford, police reported. Wind speeds reached 80 mph at the Ohio River town of New Amsterdam, according to the weather service. There were also reports of small hail accompanying the storms