Impressive Tornado Hits Kokomo Indiana - Just In! - Kokomo Starbucks Tornado
By Brian Lada, Meteorologist August 25, 2016; 7:58 AM ET
Multiple tornadoes touched down across Indiana on Wednesday afternoon as severe thunderstorms tracked across the state.
Two tornado-producing thunderstorms moved through the Indianapolis area with the National Weather Service referring to one tornado as "large and extremely dangerous."
Another tornado-producing thunderstorm moved through the town of Kokomo, Indiana, located north of Indianapolis, and flattened a Starbucks as it moved through. Fortunately no one inside the coffee shop was injured.
This tornado has been given a preliminary rating of EF-3 by the National Weather Service, meaning that winds were as high as 165 mph.
Howard County, where Kokomo is located, has been placed in a state of emergency by the local government due to the severe weather.
The tornadoes brought down many trees and power lines across the region leading to widespread power outages.
On Wednesday evening, at least 29,000 electric customers were without power in Kokomo, according to Duke energy. There were an additional 11,000 electric customers without power around Indianapolis, according to Indianapolis Power and Light Company.
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There have not been any immediate reports of major injuries or fatalities across Indiana or Ohio due to the severe thunderstorms. According to the Indiana State Police, approximately 15-20 people suffered minor injuries in rural Howard County and Kokomo. The injuries were largely the result of flying debris.
The Indiana Red Cross and Salvation Army are already in Kokomo to assess the damage and to help those affected by the severe weather.
There were also numerous reports of tornadoes in northwest Ohio Wednesday evening. According to preliminary data from the Storm Prediction Center, there were at least 40 tornado reports across Indiana and Ohio.
This image made from a video provided by WTHR 13 shows damage to a Starbucks after a tornado in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Nicole Misencik/WTHR 13 via AP)
A car is crushed by a felled tree in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, as thunderstorms have lashed several parts of eastern Nebraska, leaving thousands of people without power and some stranded by street flooding and storm debris. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Photo of the tornado near Kokomo, Indiana. (Photo/Maicie Alexis Ennis)
Storm damage near Kokomo, Indiana. (Twitter Photo/@TeeJayCrawford)
Damage to a house near Kokomo, Indiana. (Twitter Photo/@TeeJayCrawford)
A house that sustained heavy damage in Kokomo, Indiana. (Twitter Photo/@UnluckyGamer21)
Storm damage at the Kokomo Golf Club. (Instagram Photo/caewine)
Picture showing the tornado-producing thunderstorm near Kokomo, Indiana. (Twitter Photo/@mama_of_k2)
This image captured from a video shows a tornado Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, in Kokomo, Ind. (Bruce Robinson via AP)
Storm damage in Montgomery County, Indiana. (Photo/Indiana Department of Homeland Security)
Several buildings were destroyed in Montgomery County, Indiana, on Wednesday. (Photo/Indiana Department of Homeland Security)
Source: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/photos-tornado-flattens-building-kokomo-indiana-indianapolis/59673168
