SHOALS, Ind. (AP) — A tornado struck an Indiana home, killing a man and injuring his wife, while two people died in Arkansas after a tree fell onto a house, as severe weather rumbled through several central states.
The tornado that hit the home Sunday evening was part of a storm system that pushed through a rural, wooded area of southern Indiana’s Martin County.
The injured woman was flown by helicopter to a hospital, said Cameron Wolf, Martin County’s emergency management director. The newer, log cabin-style house was leveled as a storm that also had large hail and other strong winds raked the area about 85 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of Indianapolis.
Another tornado touched down Sunday afternoon the suburban Indianapolis communities of Greenwood and Bargersville, officials said.
Bargersville Fire Chief Erik Funkhouser said at least 75 homes suffered moderate to severe damage as the latter tornado crossed Indiana State Road 135 in the area of Interstate 69. Crews did not find any deaths or injuries from the tornado, which officials estimated was on the ground for about 15 minutes.
In Arkansas, sheriff’s officials said two people were killed and a third was injured Sunday night in the central community of Carlisle when a tree fell onto a home, KTHV-TV reported.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency, citing numerous downed power lines in the state.
The National Guard said it was providing potable water to the community of West Helena in eastern Arkansas, after water service was knocked out overnight.
High winds also caused tens of thousands of homes and businesses to lose electricity in Arkansas, Michigan and Tennessee.