Surveyors confirm EF-1 tornado hit Jackson County

Surveyors from the National Weather Service have confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down just after midnight Thursday morning in Jackson County near Freetown.

According to the survey data, the tornado touched down at 12:03 a.m. near Hound Hollow northwest of Freetown and traveled 6.3 miles to the east. It had estimated wind speeds of 110mph and was 325 yards across at its widest.

There were no deaths or injuries. The tornado knocked down trees, snapped power poles, damaged homes and destroyed a pole barn and carport. A tree was knocked down on the garage of a home causing significant damage.

Toby Ortman, director of the Jackson County Emergency Management Department, was out with surveyors yesterday and after speaking with affected homeowners said he credited phone apps which broadcast the warning from the National Weather Service with saving lives during the tornado. He stressed that severe weather sirens are for those outdoors and urged everyone to have at least two ways to receive weather warnings during a crisis.

The weather service also confirmed what surveyors said was a high end EF-2 tornado struck in Owen and Monroe counties Wednesday night. That tornado raised tornado warnings all the way into Bartholomew County. It landed at 9:44 p.m. was on the ground 15.3 miles, and was up to 880 yards wide with wind speeds of up to 130 mph. It lifted at 10:07 p.m. One person was injured.

For more information: https://partnerservices.nws.noaa.gov/products/cache/169-2026/PNSIND/9ae481b65cdb202c5f4ab06b174b12ba