No reported injuries
High winds rip through county
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

According to Donna Million, dispatcher at the Ripley County 911 Center, there were no injuries or deaths reported from the storm that swept through the area Sunday, April 2.

There was, however, a lot of damage such as downed power lines, trees and debris and structural damage. Ripley County Emergency Management Agency personnel reported a damage estimate of $319,000. This included 13 houses, five barns and sheds, a grain bin and one church.

Damage reports came into the 911 center noting that homes in the Holton, Delaware, and Morris areas had been hit by the high winds, causing damage. Also, it was reported that an unoccupied mobile home southeast of New Marion had been blown off its foundation.

Preliminary damage assessment from the storms Sunday night was made by Ripley County Emergency Management Agency personnel and sent to state officials. Studies made by RCEMA showed that most of the structural damage was in the Holton, Delaware and Napoleon areas.

Fire departments along with the County Highway Department and State Highway employees were busy moving trees off roadways and cleaning debris on Monday morning.

RCEMA personnel and weather spotters were out in full force before the storm hit the county Sunday night, and then continued working on initial damage assessments into the day on Monday. Sheriff Bill Davison reported his department kept busy with reports throughout the storm.

Electrical crews from CinergyPSI and Southeastern REMC were busy throughout the night and into the morning on Monday restoring power to much of the county.

As of Monday morning, Deputy Director of RCEMA Dan Mulford noted that one street in Delaware was still closed with trees and an electric utility pole down waiting to be cleared. Motorists were being advised to use caution, especially on county roads and report any downed power lines or trees.

There was a severe thunderstorm warning given for the entire area of Ripley County, but according to information from the E911 center, a tornado warning was not issued for Ripley County. Remember, a tornado watch means weather conditions are favorable for a tornado to occur, but a tornado warning means take immediate shelter, a tornado has been spotted.

Most of the storm's damage occurred in a ten-minute window, between 10:10 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. Sunday night.

WOODY BUSH PHOTO

This photo was taken on 850 W just west of Derrick Street outside of Holton. There were numerous trees down in this area.

WOODY BUSH PHOTO

The Greg and Linda Lunsford property at 8265 Baseline Rd. just west of Holton town limits was heavily damaged from the storm Sunday night.