Tornadoes in my Hometown
Point A: Lake Township, which was hit by the tornado, Point B: Where my parents live.
Lake High School
Over the weekend, my hometown of Oregon, Ohio had some seriously damaging storms. On Saturday night my mom texted me around 1115pm saying “we’re under a tornado warning.” I didn’t make much of it because tornado watches and warnings are very common during Ohio summers. I woke up the next day to read another text from my mom describing the aftermath. Apparently her and my brother had been up all night watching the news, but thankfully their house was not hit.
There were 3 tornadoes that touched down in their area— the largest one being just 6 miles from their house— in Millbury. That tornado was about 100 yards wide, with winds over 165mph, and went on for 8-10 miles, completely destroying over 50 homes, killing 5 people (last I heard), leveling a police station, and wiping out Lake High School. Lake High students were set to graduate yesterday, just hours after that tornado leveled their ceremony plans. Apparently one of the victims was the valedictorian’s father as well. That’s one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve heard in my entire life. Another woman and her 4 year old son were also killed while her husband and daughter remain in the ICU. Another couple was driving down 795 when the tornado hit and they took cover in the police station that was completely wiped out. The woman didn’t make it, leaving behind her boyfriend and their child. I’m not sure about the other death(s), but those stories are depressing enough as it is.
It’s crazy to see these areas on the news, completely destroyed, and to hear about the path of damage traveling along the roads I used to drive myself. I’m very grateful that the storm didn’t hit anyone in my family’s home, especially my mom & dad’s house since they don’t have a basement, and my 16 year old dog probably wouldn’t have made it. I’m extremely sad for the victim’s families of this storm, and I hope that they can begin to rebuild their lives soon, and the Lake High School students can have the proper graduation that they deserve.
If you want to check out some pictures of the damage, check out 11 WTOL and 13 ABC.
[...] while in Ohio. Aside from the usual party pictures, I took some photos of what was left from the June 5th tornado(es) that hit Millbury & Lake Township. I took the photos exactly one month later so most of the [...]