Tornadoes confirmed

by Denise Forsberg
Pharos-Tribune staff writer

May 30, 2008 11:17 pm

— Several tornados touched down in rural Carroll County Friday, producing only minor damage.
Dave McDowell, director of the Carroll County Emergency Management Agency, confirmed at least three to four tornados had touched ground in farm fields seven miles southwest of Flora at 400S and 500W.
A trained storm spotter called in the first tornado at approximately 7:30 p.m., prompting the National Weather Service to issue tornado warnings for Carroll and several surrounding counties. Minutes later, several Carroll County deputies also reportedly saw at least two or three more tornados touch ground in the same location, according to McDowell.
The tornado warning for Carroll County was allowed to expire at 8:15 p.m., but McDowell said EMA officials stayed out watching the weather.
“We haven’t had any damage reported as of now,” he said after the warning expired. “We have had an awful lot of lightning, so I expect there is damage somewhere.”
A heavy rainfall and strong winds throughout most of the county caused flooding on several roads, along with McDowell’s EMA office. However, McDowell said Friday’s storms were not likely to produce flooding like what devastated Carroll County in January and February.
McDowell said water levels in the Wabash and Tippecanoe rivers did not appear high, but he was uncertain about smaller streams and estimated that there is a possibility of some flooding.
And though no damage was evident from the tornados, he said residents might experience some damage as a result of the high winds.
McDowell said he was waiting for the severe weather to subside before going out to check for damage throughout the county.
“We have had severe storms, but I expect the damage to homes will not be as bad as the damage from the floods,” he said. “I expect some flooding damage to cars and some damage to county roads.”
Denise Forsberg can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or via e-mail at denise.forsberg@pharostribune.com