Several reported tornadoes hit area during storms

Last night’s severe weather brought several reports of tornadoes on the ground in the area.

At just before 10 p.m., the National Weather Service reported a large and extremely dangerous tornado on the ground 10 miles north of Bloomington, heading east at 45 miles per hour, toward Brown, southern Johnson and northwestern Bartholomew County.

Just after midnight the National Weather Service reported a confirmed tornado on the ground in northern Jackson County heading east toward Bartholomew and Jennings County. The tornado was nine miles northwest of Brownstown, moving at 45 mph and threatening Seymour, Jonesville, Freetown, Cortland, Azalia and Waymansville.

Toby Ortman with Jackson County Emergency Management said that he was unable to reach the path of the reported tornado to assess the damages last night due to trees and powerlines down in the area. Emergency officials and residents did report several damaged and destroyed homes in the Freetown area.

Survey crews from the National Weather Service are expected to be assessing damages to determine the strength of the storms.