Tornados hit Indiana over weekend

A tornado hit northeast of Ellettsville Sunday afternoon damaging 23 houses and causing about $45,000 in clean-up. No fatalities or injuries were reported in Monroe County.\nOne house in Ellettsville was completely destroyed while others sustained minor damages, said John Hooker III, director of Monroe County Emergency Management. Damage assessment is still being conducted.\nSevere weather sirens -- all 26 stationed throughout the county -- sounded Sunday afternoon. However, there were some difficulties with the overall warning system.\n"We had some problems with the cable override system," Hooker said. "The system didn't work on Thursday night or Sunday afternoon. We have Insight working on it now," referring to the cable operator.\nSteve Haines, a meteorologist who was part of the survey team that assessed the damage, said the National Weather Service detected tree damage from north of the Lake Monroe Dam going northeastward through the Paynetown area to Gilmore Ridge Road.\nHooker said he received reports of damage near Paynetown and its water treatment plant. Hooker also said he spoke with bystanders who witnessed a tornado near Gilmore Ridge.\nAs a result of the storms last Thursday and this Sunday, the state declared Monroe County a disaster area. \nThis is not the only time a tornado has hit this area. Two years ago an F2-grade tornado caused extensive damage in Ellettsville, Martinsville and surrounding areas. In order to reach the F2 rating, winds must reach speeds between 113 and 157 mph.\nAngeline Protogere, a spokesperson for Cinergy, said about 6,400 houses and businesses had disrupted electrical service in Monroe County.\n"Around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday we started noticing outages in Ellettsville, Bloomington and the Spencer area," Protogere said.\nProtogere said Cinergy has over 200 of its own crew, 70 from its sister company, Cincinnati Gas and Electric and about 30 contractors all working in Indiana to repair the electric grid. There were no estimates on cost as of press time.\nJoseph Nield, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said it is unusual to have such a strong low-pressure system this time of year, but more storms are expected throughout the summer.\nNield said a collision between a cold front that was moving eastward from Michigan and a warm front coming in from the south caused the severe weather. In total the system caused 15 to 20 tornados over the entire state, Nield said.\nMaria Carrasquillo, director of Emergency Services for the Red Cross in Monroe County, said the organization is helping 23 homes in Monroe County.\n"It is amazing how (much) people in Monroe County and other counties have given of themselves to help others," Carrasquillo said. "Neighbors and families (of the victims) have been helping by providing shelter, food and clothing."\nIn the case of an emergency, Red Cross disaster assistance can be contacted at 332-7292.\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu