Devastating tornadoes wreak havoc in Ohio, leaving 4 dead and community in ruins

DAYTON, Ohio (TND) — Much of Ohio was battered by severe weather on Thursday night leaving at least four people dead.

Three people died of storm-related causes and one died of natural causes, according to the Logan County Sheriff's Office.

The National Weather Service confirmed at least six tornadoes so far. The damage and data are still being analyzed, and ratings are subject to change.

• EF1 in west Mercer County
• EF1 in Licking County near Johnstown
• EF3 struck Logan County near Indian Lake
• EF1 in Mercer and Auglaize Counties
• EF2 in Crawford and Richland Counties with a wind speed of approximately 120 mph.
• EF1 in Hancock County with a wind speed of approximately 105 mph.

Friday morning, several schools in the area were closed, and officials were urging people with good intentions not to bother showing up to help. Downed trees and power lines are making navigation difficult in the area, especially in the dark.

"This is not the time to be sightseeing," ODOT spokesman Matt Bruning said. "It really is not. So just stay home, stay off the roads. Let our crews do their jobs."

"It's pure devastation. I have never seen anything like this in my entire life," Amber Fagan told WSYX in Columbus.

She’s president and CEO of the Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and she recommended staying off the roads.

"Our Lakeview Municipal building is demolished. Our laundromat is gone. The old plastics building is just completely demolished," Fagan said. "Downtown, it's bad. It's very bad."

"I just was checking on all our local businesses and our chamber members and that, you know, everybody I know is OK, but I've heard some people are not OK."

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Reports of search and rescue crews have been deployed in the Logan County area, north of Dayton and northwest of Columbus.

WKEF also reported Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine has been set up for triage of mass casualties. The Bellefontaine Examiner newspaper was reporting four or five ambulances outside the emergency room at about 8:45 p.m. Thursday.

"Asking for prayers for our community at this time,” the district reported on Facebook. “School is canceled for Friday, March 15. Indian Lake Schools will be open as a shelter as soon as possible. Power is out, but we have backup generators."

The Ohio Department of Transportation reported several roads were closed due to the storms.