April 20, 1996

Tornadoes rip county

       Two tornadoes and severe thunderstorms ripped through Johnson County Friday night, knocking out power, dumping golf ball-sized hail and twisting and tossing mobile homes. The worst hit areas were reported at Smith Valley Road and Morgantown Road and at Indy RV on State Road 37 west of Greenwood, said Tom Shively, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department spokesman.  Damage also was reported in the Friendly Village and Glendale trailer parks, just south of County Line Road and east of Morgantown Road. The Bluff Acres subdivision in White River Township was also damaged.  White River Township firefighters reported treating several minor injuries, including cuts, bruises and dislocations.  In the community of Old Smith Valley, there were reports of roofs torn off and houses shifted off their foundations.  “Some of the houses are mangled. (The residents) said they saw a tornado and heard the rumble of a freight train,” said Lt. James Meacham of the White River Township Fire Department.  Approximately 25 residents from the two trailer parks were taking shelter at White River Fire Station. No. 2 because their mobile homes were damaged, Meacham said.  The path of the first tornado began along Smith Valley Road moving west to east, Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike McElwain said. The second tornado took a path heading off to the northeast, he said.  Sheriff’s Detective Richard Skaggs saw the tornado moving on Morgantown Road and State Road 144.  “It was large and black,” Skaggs said. “It wasn’t on the ground, but it was rotating. The wind was real strong.”  The side of the Indy RV building was peeled off, with two RVs ending up in the lake in front of the business and several others being turned on their sides.  Owners Rosie Wise and Jeff Wise said they had closed at 6 p.m. and no one was inside when the tornado hit. The Wises said they had no idea of the amount of damage. Quality Repair, which sits right behind Indy RV, was demolished by the storm. Homeowners stood outside surveying the damage along Smith Valley Road as PSI Energy crews surveyed the damage.  Power could be out for two days in some areas while crews repair the damage near Smith Valley and Morgantown roads.  Lewis Query found a barn that didn’t belong to him sitting beside one of his buildings on Smith Valley Road.  “Can you imagine that flying through the air?” Query said as he looked at the steel structure that barely missed the side of the building.  Marion Armstrong stood in his bathrobe along Smith Valley surveying the uprooted trees and debris in his yard.  “I was home,” Armstrong said.  “A board came through the side window and nipped my arm.”  The first wave of severe weather moved through the northern part of the county just after 7 p.m.  See a related story and photos HERE.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

     
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