Tornado in Richmond, IN - June 15, 2019

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
223 PM EDT Mon Jun 17 2019

...EF0 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN RICHMOND INDIANA...

Location...Richmond in Wayne County, Indiana
Date...June 15, 2019
Start Time...9:51 PM EDT
End Time...9:54 PM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF0
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85 mph
Maximum Path Width...100 yards
Path Length...1.6 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...39.8214N / 84.8505W
Ending Lat/Lon...39.8385N / 84.8325W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...2

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Wilmington Ohio has confirmed a EF0
tornado in Richmond in Wayne County, Indiana.

The beginning of the tornado appears to have occurred along S 37th
Street, just to the south of Backmeyer Road, as indicated by swirl
marks in a field adjacent to S 37th Street, along with two trees
snapped along S 37th Street.

The tornado moved north-northeast, producing damage at the
Brookdale Nursing Home on South A Street. Five to ten percent of
the nursing home roof was removed. One tree four inches in diameter
was knocked down, and several smaller limbs from trees were also
downed.

The most significant damage was observed at the Richmond Mall,
where several air handlers on the roof were removed and one was
blown northeast onto Route 40. The parking lot was also full of
debris and a large store on the southwest side of the Mall had
fifty percent of the glass blown in. On the east side of the Mall,
a brick wall seven feet high by thirty feet long was destroyed, and
some of the facade was starting to peel away from the roof. Around
that same area, a garage door was blown in. Overall Less than five
percent of the roof of the Mall was removed. On the inside of the
mall, approximately eight businesses experienced damage,
primarily from windows blown out and merchandise blown around.
Winds at the Richmond Mall are estimated to be around 85 mph,
which is rated at the highest end for an EF0 tornado.

Some of the roof material from the Mall landed in three to five
businesses on the other side of US 40. Those businesses also
received minor damage, with isolated windows being blown out and
also some observed damage to signage and siding. A concrete table
was moved several feet from its original position, and there was
also minor small tree damage. In the service station at the
intersection of US 40 and Hayes Arboretum Rd, an adult and a child
were sitting in a car when the windows were blown in, causing
minor injuries. They were taken to the hospital, treated and
released.

Further northeast along Woodside Drive, a large hardwood tree fell
to the southwest onto a house and also a tall metal television
antenna fell the opposite direction onto the house. Extensive
tree damage was also observed near the house, with several two
foot diameter trees blown down. Debris from the signage of
businesses were scattered throughout the property on Woodside
Drive.

The property next door also experienced some damage, particulary
with the garage being shifted, and a tree limb was also knocked
down onto the house. Further down along Woodside Drive, several
large tree limbs were down. On Sycamore Drive, isolated two to
three foot diameter trees were knocked down.

The last visible damage from this tornado appears to be along
Gravel Pit Road, where an additional one or two trees were down.
No additional damage was reported east of here.

The National Weather Weather Service would like to thank Wayne
County, Indiana Emergency Management for their assistance in
conducting this storm damage survey.

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$
Haydu/Peloquin/Sattler