Community cleans up after tornado touches down in Bartholomew County

Note: This story has been updated

Authorities say that a tornado touched down in Bartholomew County Wednesday night, knocking down trees and powerlines, damaging homes and barns and blocking roads.

The first tornado warning in Bartholomew County was at about 8:15 p.m. last night and included Southeastern Brown, Northwestern Jackson and northeastern Lawrence Counties. That came after radar indicated rotation in the storm cloud.

At 8:40 p.m. a tornado warning was issued for central Bartholomew county with the weather service reporting a severe thunderstorm 8 miles southwest of Columbus moving northeast at 55 mph.

A tornado warning at 8:57 p.m. reported the tornado on the ground south of Columbus and warned people in east central Bartholomew County and northwestern Decatur County to take cover.

Bartholomew County Emergency Management says that the tornado appears to have passed through Jonesville, the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, Walesboro, Ceraland and Petersville areas.

There are still many homes and businesses without power in our area.

As of this morning, Bartholomew County REMC is reporting 945 customers still without power with most in Wayne and Sand Creek townships. The largest group, of 244 customers without power is just west of Elizabethtown.

Duke Energy is reporting 74 customers without power in Bartholomew County with 72 of those near the Hartsville area.

Authorities urge you not to approach downed power lines, as they may still be live. You should call 911 if you have power lines down on your property or come across power lines down across the road.

Bartholomew County Emergency Management says that no injuries have been reported.

Emergency officials urge you to remain out of the damaged areas in the county until first responders and utility companies can clear the downed power lines and debris.

The National Weather Service was scheduled to start surveying the storm damage at 7 this morning.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.