Storms, possible tornadoes leave at least 3 dead in East Central Indiana

MUNCIE, Ind. — Severe thunderstorms — and what were believed to be tornadoes — hit Delaware and Randolph counties on Thursday evening, leaving destruction and death in their wake.

At least three deaths were reported in Winchester, where a mobile home park and the local Taco Bell were reported to have been destroyed by the storm. Several other properties in that Randolph County city were said to be severely damaged.

Homes in and near Selma, in eastern Delaware County, were also damaged — and in some cases reportedly destroyed — by the storm.

Three tornadoes earlier Thursday caused extensive damage in southern Indiana and western Kentucky but no deaths have been reported there.

About 7:45 p.m., scanner traffic indicated there were "multiple injuries" in the area of Ind. 32 and Delaware County Road 600 East, where high winds had reportedly damaged vehicles.

Two ambulances were requested at that location.

Emergency personnel also received reports of severe damage to homes in the Selma area. A barn was also reported to have been destroyed.

In a release issued late Thursday night, the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency said the storm system "inflicted significant damage across various parts of the county," especially in the Selma area.

An initial assessment indicated as many as half of the structures in the town — of about 740 people, less than four miles east of the Muncie city limits along Ind. 32 — had been damaged.

However, as of 11 p.m. Thursday, only minor related injuries had been reported in Selma, with one person transported to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The county's emergency operations center was "activated and fully staffed to coordinate response efforts," the release said.

Debris removal efforts were underway. A "reunification center" had been set up at nearby Wapahani High School to provide "assistance and support" residents of the Selma area who were displaced by storm damage or became separated from family members.

(According to the release, Delaware County residents are encouraged to report storm damage through a designated form available online at bit.ly/sendyourdamage.)

As the severe thunderstorm moved through Delaware County about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, funnel clouds were reported in the Royerton and Selma areas.

At 8:12 p.m., scanner traffic indicated a tornado was "on the ground" in Hamilton Township. That storm was reported to be traveling northeast.

About 8:20 p.m., a funnel cloud was reported south of Daleville in southwestern Delaware County.

Emergency personnel in the Selma area about 8:20 p.m. were advised to take shelter in their vehicles until a second round of storms moved through.

Multiple gas leaks related to the storm were reported in the Selma area.

Emergency responders arriving in the Selma area about 8:40 p.m. were advised it is "a debris field out here." Ind. 32 was closed to traffic.

A short time later, reports of severe storm damage in Randolph County reached those attempting to assess the damage in Selma. Efforts were made to send some Delaware County emergency personnel to assist their counterparts in Randolph County.

Multiple ambulances from throughout East Central Indiana were reportedly being sent to Winchester.

The Taco Bell restaurant in Winchester, at 951 E. Granville Pike, was reportedly destroyed by the storm.

Temporary shelters in Winchester were established at Winchester Community High School and Willard Elementary School, according to Indiana State Police.

Late Thursday, a map on an Indiana Michigan Power website indicated more than 5,400 customers were without power in the Winchester and Union City areas.

Thursday's storms came about three weeks before the 50th anniversary of a tornado that did massive damage in the Parker City area on April 3, 1974.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Possible tornadoes leave death, destruction in Winchester, Indiana