June 11, 2004

Funnel clouds spotted in county

       Lightning darted from cloud to cloud, and at least one funnel cloud blew overhead, but no significant damage was reported from an evening round of storms that moved through Johnson County on Thursday.  Firefighters and police officers watched a funnel cloud form in the skies across Johnson County, from State Road 37 to Interstate 65. White River Township Fire Department Battalion Chief Joel Thacker snapped a digital photo of the funnel cloud as it moved over Demaree and Honey Creek roads.  But lightning struck the fire department’s headquarters at State Road 37 and Smith Valley Road, frying the department’s phone and computer lines. (See related story HERE)  Thacker was unable to download the photo onto a computer for use in the Daily Journal.  The storm moved through Johnson from Morgan County about 8 p.m., dumping rain and sending some residents running for cover. Mooresville-area residents called Indianapolis TV stations to report downed trees.  White River Township firefighters, sheriff’s officers and Greenwood police had received no reports of storm damage by about 9:15 p.m.  A funnel cloud was reported over the Olive Branch Road area. Greenwood police officers watched what they thought to be funnel clouds near Worthsville Road at U.S. 31 and Interstate 65 and near Stop 18 and Averitt roads.  Residents called police dispatchers to report high winds and hail, but no one had reported damage to the Greenwood Police Department or the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.  Greenwood police did receive a report of a lightning strike near Stop 18 Road, Chief Albert Hessman said.  Nearly two weeks ago, a storm that produced 17 tornadoes moved through Indiana, causing significant damage to an Indianapolis Public Schools middle school and a nursing home in Marion County. A total of nearly 1,400 homes were affected — including 154 destroyed and 220 sustaining heavy damage — throughout the state.  (Reproduced with permission from the Daily Journal)

     
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