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Tornado Hits Madison County, Ind., Causing Severe Damage
MADISON COUNTY, Ind. — A tornado struck Madison County on Monday night, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
On Tuesday morning, NWS teams conducted a damage survey and confirmed that the extent of the destruction was consistent with a tornado. Sam Lashley, warning coordination meteorologist with NWS Indianapolis, indicated that while the tornado’s exact path is still being determined, it appeared to have moved erratically from near the Hamilton/Madison county line to its final location.
“The debris pattern is strongly indicative of a tornado,” Lashley explained. “We observed circulating patterns, lifting, and lofting of debris, which we use to verify and assess the appropriate wind speed ratings.”
The NWS later confirmed that the tornado was an EF2, with peak winds estimated at 130 mph. It originated in Hamilton County as an EF0 before intensifying as it crossed into Madison County.
The tornado caused significant damage to the Frankton-Lapel Community Schools Administration Building at 7916 W. 300 North. The storm tore the roof off the gymnasium and displaced it 150 yards to the north. The tornado also uprooted trees and traveled across a cornfield before hitting the building.
“There were no injuries reported as the building was unoccupied at the time,” Lashley said. “However, the impact is still considerable for those connected to the school. We strive to provide timely warnings to ensure safety.”
Lashley noted that predicting tornadoes, especially with short lead times, remains challenging. Nevertheless, the NWS managed to issue a warning approximately five to ten minutes before the tornado struck.
Tom Ecker with the Madison County Emergency Management Authority confirmed that the school administration building sustained extensive damage to its roof and at least two walls. Ecker also reported damage to at least two homes in the Perkinsville area.
In addition, tornado damage included concrete blocks being torn from walls and deposited on several school buses. One bus had a metal support driven through its frame.
Images of the damage showed significant destruction to around a dozen school buses, which could impact school operations as the new term approaches. Jessa Ashton, public information officer for the Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department, stated that the cost of the damage to the building and buses has not yet been estimated.
The Lafayette Township Volunteer Fire Department noted that the storm led to the collapse of the building’s original gymnasium walls and roof. Multiple emergency services, including the Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department, Madison County EMA, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, assisted at the scene. Hamilton County EMA deployed a drone to assess the damage from above.
Most of the reported damage has been north of Perkinsville, around County Road 300 North and County Road 600 West. Tornado warnings were issued across several counties including Delaware, Henry, Madison, Franklin, Butler, Wayne, Fayette, Union, and Henry throughout Monday night. The NWS had previously reported a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado near Anderson at 10:44 p.m.
The NWS received over a dozen damage reports from Monday night’s severe weather, including wind damage in Centerville, Brookville, and Daleville, and storm damage in Lebanon and Wilmington, Ohio.