Governor DeWine issues state of emergency for Ohio counties impacted by tornadoes
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Columbus and Central Ohio Weather
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has declared a state of emergency for multiple counties that were impacted by tornadoes Thursday evening.
DeWine issued the order for 11 counties after the National Weather Service ruled that eight tornadoes touched down. The counties under a state of emergency include:
Auglaize
Crawford
Delaware
Hancock
Licking
Logan
Mercer
Miami
Richland
Union
Under the order, all relevant state departments will lend services, equipment, supplies, and personnel for recovery efforts. Additionally, DeWine activated the Ohio National Guard for Logan County to assist in clean up efforts after three people were killed following an EF-3 tornado.
Biggest tornadoes in Ohio of the past decade
The first tornado warnings on Thursday were issued at about 8:30 p.m. and continued through 10:15, connected to storms with strong winds and unconfirmed tornadoes.
Crews in Logan County confirmed a EF-3 tornado caused damage near Orchard Island after initially categorizing it as an EF-2.
Crews visited Licking and Mercer counties, where they determined an EF-1 tornado occurred near Johnstown and another EF-1 touched down in western Mercer County. Licking County was the site of a tornado near Jersey in late February. That means tornadoes have struck north and south of the Intel construction site in recent weeks.
In Orange Township in southwestern Hancock County, an EF-1 tornado reached estimated winds of 100 mph and traveled for more than 3 miles at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. A 250-yard-wide EF-2 tornado traveled for more than 10 miles in Crawford and Richland counties shortly before 8 p.m.
Storm damage in photos and video
Olentangy Berlin athletic fields sustained extensive damage after violent storms ripped through Delaware and Logan Counties, March 14, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn) Delaware County residents experienced extensive damage to their homes and property in the aftermath of violent storms, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn) Delaware County residents experienced extensive damage to their homes and property in the aftermath of violent storms, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn) Delaware County residents experienced extensive damage to their homes and property in the aftermath of violent storms, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn) Olentangy Berlin athletic fields sustained extensive damage after violent storms ripped through Delaware and Logan Counties, March 14, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn) Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (NBC4) Houses and businesses in the village of Lakeview have been damaged by a violent storm, and possible tornado, that moved through Logan County overnight on March 14, 2024. (NBC4 Photo/Eric Halperin) Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce) A doorbell camera captures a possible funnel cloud forming in Delaware County, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Jason Cox) Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce) Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce) Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce) Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce) A power tower is down after storms ripped through Delaware County, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy) Storm damage caused several roads to close and damaged homes in Galena, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy) Storm damage caused several roads to close and damaged homes in Galena, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy) Storm damage caused several roads to close and damaged homes in Galena, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy) Storm damage caused several roads to close and damaged homes in Galena, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy) Storm damage in Mercer County north of Dayton (Photo Courtesy: Grace Hewitt, WDTN) Storm damage in Mercer County north of Dayton (Photo Courtesy: Grace Hewitt, WDTN) Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (NBC4) Multiple homes and businesses have been damaged in the village of Lakeview on Indian Lake. (NBC4 Photo/Eric Halperin)
NBC4 and the American Red Cross are partnering to raise funds for the victims of tornados and storms in Ohio and the Midwest. Anyone wishing to donate to 4’s Army Tornado Relief can now donate at this link.
Call 1-800-RED CROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Ensure your donation helps people affected by recent tornadoes and storms go to https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
