INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — At least two people died after severe storms and a possible tornado hit northwestern Indiana on Tuesday night.
Just before 7 p.m., a “large tornado” hit the community of Lake Village in Newton County, destroying homes and businesses, according to Lori Postma, public information officer for the Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department.
The tornado was reported by multiple firefighters who were serving as storm spotters, Postma says.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield says rescue crews found two people deceased, an elderly man and an elderly woman. Fifield did not say who they were or where they were found.
At least 10 people had serious injuries, including one person Postma found walking along a road. She says rescuers discovered one man sitting inside his pickup truck, which was surrounded by downed trees.
“Considering the damage we’ve seen, I’m surprised there weren’t more injuries,” Postma said.
Multiple homes were damaged or destroyed, including the homes of four Lake Village Township volunteer firefighters. At least one of the firefighters’ homes will have to be demolished, according to Postma.
Indiana Task Force 1 will be in Lake Station on Wednesday to conduct a secondary search.
IN-TF1 Commander Tom Neal said in a statement 43 task members deployed for the mission, arriving in Lake Village around 6:40 a.m. ET.
“The team reports extensive damage to structures, homes, trees, and farms in the area. The extent of the damage will determine the length of this deployment, and the team is actively assessing as they go,” the statement said.
A team from the National Weather Service will survey the damage to determine if a tornado hit the area.
Sheriff Shannon Cothran asked people to stay away from Lake Village while search and cleanup operations are underway.
“Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now,” Cothran said in a Facebook video posted late Tuesday.
North Newton High School is serving as an emergency shelter for anyone displaced by the storms.
Indiana 211 wants Newton County residents to submit damage reports from Tuesday night’s storms. Click here to learn more.
Lake Village is about 2 hours, or 125 miles, northwest of Indianapolis.
