PORTLAND, Ind. (WISH) – Kyle Love spoke Monday about the tornado that hit his home Sunday night.
The National Weather Service did not issue a storm or tornado warning prior to the tornado’s arrival.
“I had no warning whatsoever, my job was more to figure out how to get out of a collapsing building,” Love said.
The Jay County Junior-Senior High School teacher lives directly across the street from the school, which was also damaged. His house was a direct hit. The tornado ripped the roof off his house and hurled it into his neighbor’s house.
From the air, all that was visible were a few wooden beams from his roof. He says part of the ceiling fell on him. But he’s OK.
“I could hear it breaking before the ceiling fell on me. It was by far the worst minute of my life. It was bad.”
Love, who is also a part-time firefighter, said he was watching a football game Sunday night when he heard a loud noise. He looked out the window and saw debris flying across the highway.
“They always say it was a freight train. I compare it more to a jet engine. It was a high-pitched, whistling sound.”
On Monday, most of his roof was in his backyard. Wood chips and insulation were strewn across the lawn. Outside his house was a twisted piece of sheet metal, part of the heating and air conditioning system from the high school roof that had landed in his house.
Love says he’s taking it day by day. “I’m working on a long-term solution, but right now it’s day by day.”
Love tried to save important items such as school yearbooks.
He spent the night at a fire station on Sunday night. He wanted to stay at a friend’s house on Monday night.
Although he was waiting for his insurance company to assess the damage, he said he was just happy to be alive.
At the high school, the metal heating and air conditioning unit that once sat on the school’s roof was on the ground Monday. Metal and tree branches were scattered on the front lawn. Inside the school, water damage was visible in the hallways, lockers and library. Water could be seen falling through the ceiling.
Just down the road, the tornado struck the American Legion, blowing its roof into the parking lot. Bob Burkhart, the American Legion’s state commander, described the damage as devastating. “Many times when there were emergencies, the base was open to provide food or shelter. Now they are the ones who are no longer operational.”
Jay County officials say they were lucky.
Samantha Rhode Hamel of the Jay County Emergency Management Agency said, “We were fortunate that no one was injured. We are currently assessing the damage and you will see teams assessing the damage today.”
The American Legion and about 100 other people in Jay County were without power Monday afternoon. The emergency management agency spokesman said Indiana Michigan Power was working to restore power by the end of the day.
About the two tornadoes in Jay County
The first tornado touched down at 7:42 p.m. Sunday, traveling 0.21 miles (0.34 km) and measuring 150 feet (46 m) at its widest point. It struck two miles (3 km) north-northeast of Blaine. The weather service did not give peak wind speeds for the tornado. The weather service said the supercell initially produced a small, short-lived tornado in a cornfield east of the Salamonie River and south of County Road West 75 South before dissipating.
The second tornado touched down in the city of Portland at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday. This tornado reached winds up to 110 mph, traveled 2.2 miles, and was 230 feet wide at its widest point. It touched down about 2 miles northeast of Blaine and continued into Portland. The weather service said the tornado formed just downstream of the first and touched down near the intersection of County Road West 75 South and Joan Drive. The tornado quickly gained intensity as it moved east-northeast and struck Jay County Junior-Senior High School, causing significant roof damage. “Several homes nearby and further east on Portland’s west side sustained roof damage as well as significant tree damage along the path of this tornado.”
Jay Schools sets up distance learning
Following Monday’s closure, Jay Schools announced Monday afternoon that the high school will remain closed Tuesday. The heating and air conditioning systems remained out and likely would not be repaired all week. As a result, high school students will have an e-learning day on Tuesday and remote learning Wednesday through Friday.
“Additional information for parents of students in grades 7-12 will be sent by Jay County Jr-Sr High School administration to parents’ email addresses and Skyward accounts,” the district said.
Additionally, all K-6 schools, including preschools at the Shanks and West Jay locations, will return to in-person instruction on Tuesday and resume classes as scheduled. The tornado did not impact these locations.
News 8’s Gregg Montgomery contributed to this report.
