Tornado Touched Down During Storm

Sunday,  May 11, 2008 6:44 PM

Updated: Monday, May 12, 2008 12:46 PM

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Several funnel clouds were spotted by motorists and law enforcement on Sunday afternoon as a strong storm system raced across central Ohio.

The National Weather Service on Monday confirmed that a tornado touched down in Madison County.

The F0 tornado had estimated winds of 75 mph, Live Doppler 10 Meteorologist Mike Davis said.

It left a path about 300 yards long and 50 feet wide. Several trees northeast of West Jefferson sustained damage.

The first batch of tornado warnings was issued shortly after 1 p.m.

In Madison County, deputies and motorists reported seeing a funnel cloud near Interstate 71 and state Route 142, 10TV’s Glenn McEntyre reported.
 
Within an hour, more funnel clouds were reported in Hilliard, Powell, Lewis Center, Galena and Sunbury.
 
A separate storm system prompted more sightings to the east in Newark and Pataskala, McEntyre reported.
 
Near S.R. 142, some trees were uprooted and landed near a fence.
 
“It got really quiet,” said Stephanie Heard. “The winds started blowing really hard. The trees were sideways. It sounded like a train was coming through our backyard.”
 
Madison County Sheriff Jim Sabin said one of his deputies saw a funnel cloud drop from the sky.
 
“People who were traveling in the area, as well as an off-duty Sheriff's deputy, confirmed there was a tornado pass through,” Sabin said, “a smaller funnel cloud that basically bounced. It did touch down a few times."
 
The storm left a quarter-mile path of damaged trees and debris. Aaron Stingle said he came home with his fiancé to find clutter on their porch and other items strewn across their yard.
 
“We said, ‘Wow, I guess we better turn on the news,’” Stingle said.
 
Sabin said no injuries or major structural damage had been reported, McEntyre reported.
 
Franklin County Sires Delayed
 
In Franklin County there was about an eight-minute delay before the first tornado siren sounded, 10TV’s Brittany Westbrook reported.
 
According to the Franklin County EMA, the first tornado warning was issued at 1:16 p.m. The sirens were activated at 1:24 p.m.
 
Franklin County EMA deputy director Jim Leonard said the communications room is not manned during weekends and holidays, but there are two people on-call at all times.
 
“The unfortunate thing was normally we have a (tornado) watch, which gives us a little bit of time to know that something might pop up,” Leonard said.  “Unfortunately, this time there was nothing before the warning and by the time I got the pager off my belt and got the button pushed there was a lag time.”
 
Leonard said that as soon as he got the page and began contacting firefighters the sirens were already being activated, Westbrook reported.
 
10TV News asked why the agency was not staffed at all times.
 
The EMA said it is currently short staffed, but remained pleased with Sunday’s response time, Westbrook reported.
 
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.

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