Updated: Storms roll through the county (Audio included)
7/10/2013 4:33:40 PM
By Bill Tipple
A thunderstorm rumbled through West Central Ohio Wednesday afternoon around 3:00.
In Logan County, there were several downed trees and power lines around Indian Lake. There were also downed trees in West Mansfield.
(Pictured: Storm damage in Russells Point at State Route 708 and White Oaks Court.)
Russells Point Police Chief Joe Freyhof said several residents lost power and many power lines were torn off houses.
Freyhof said, “We are asking residents to exercise caution when checking or cleaning their property as downed lines may become energized as power is restored. Additionally, many trees are still lying across power lines and other utilities.”
A brief damage survey resulted in roughly a dozen or more large trees uprooted or broken. Those trees collectively damaged outbuildings, garages, and at least three homes. Primary power lines and a gas leak caused by downed trees forced the closure of Orchard Island Road at Beatley's Mobile Home Park for over an hour. The closure stopped cars from coming or going from Orchard Island. The 200 block of Grand Avenue was also closed for a period of time as primary power lines were torn down by multiple downed trees.
Many roads south of Elliott Road were completely blocked until roughly 9 p.m.
All of the roads in the village reopened by late Wednesday night.
In Champaign County, several trees and power lines were brought down from high winds.
A downed tree closed South Main Street in Urbana for over an hour.
Power outages were reported in both counties.
Some parts of Ohio have received rain for 18 consecutive days.
Listen to Staff Meteorologist Steve Horstmeyer discuss the storm and give an encouraging forecast for the weekend.