Trees and powerlines down; thousands without power

Note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

10:20 p.m.

Bartholomew County Emergency Management Director Shannan Cooke says the county has been added to those that can report damage from tonight’s storms. You are encouraged to  visit in211.org  and  click on DAMAGE REPORTING to submit a report. You can also dial 211 or 866-211-9966, Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to complete a damage report over the phone.

Columbus Police spokesman Lt. Skyler Berry reports that their officers have been dealing with trees and lines down, some are still in the roadway. There were several traffic lights out due to power outages.

“We encourage anyone who has to travel to do so carefully. If you can, stay home and allow crews to clean up,” Berry said.

10:15 p.m.

Duke Energy is reporting nearly 5,000 customers without power in our area including 3,000 in the Columbus area, another 757 in western Bartholomew County, 444 in Nashville, 145 near Jonesville, 73 near Petersville,  51 near Brownstown, 15 near Westport and 30 near Greensburg at of 10:10 p.m.

Bartholomew County REMC is reporting 899 customers without power, most in Ohio Township.

Jackson County REMC is reporting 1,147 without power in its coverage area, including 453 near Crothersville, 30 near Brownstown and more than 300 near South Bethany.

10:10 p.m. update

According to Bartholomew County Emergency Management, they have heard reports of a possible funnel cloud sighted on the west side of Columbus near the Interstate 65/Jonathan Moore Pike area during tonight’s storms. However, that information has not yet been confirmed. Tomorrow morning, crews will be out surveying damage, looking for signs of possible tornado activity.

Shannan Cooke, director of Bartholomew County Emergency Management, said there are multiple trees and power lines down across the county.  She said she has seen three reports of trees that have or poles that have fallen on houses in Columbus, Grandview Lake area and Sunnybrook Trailer Park in Elizabethtown.  No injuries have been reported.

8:35 p.m. update

Bartholomew County REMC is reporting 768 customers without power, most in Ohio Township.

Jackson County REMC is reporting hundreds without power in its coverage area, including 342 near North Vernon, 30 near Brownstown and more than 300 near South Bethany.

Southeastern Indiana REMC is reporting 142 customers without power in its area.

Johnson County REMC is reporting no current outages.

8:30 p.m. update

Thousands of people in our area are without power in the wake of severe storms this evening.

Duke Energy is reporting nearly more than 5,000 customers without power including 4,000 in the Columbus area, another 765 in western Bartholomew County, 426 in Nashville, 81 near Jonesville, 71 near Burnsville,  51 near Brownstown and 465 near Medora as of 8:26 p.m.

8:20 p.m. update

Bartholomew County Emergency Management says that there are trees and power lines down block roads at multiple locations.

They urge you to stay off the roads and to allow crews time to clean up the debris and damage from the storms.

Tornado warnings were issued for Bartholomew County at 7:08 p.m. and again at 7:29 p.m. according to the National Weather Service.