Sunday tornadoes strike disaster paths across Indiana

June 1, 2004

Sunday tornadoes strike disaster paths across Indiana

By Daniel R. Gangler, director of communication
Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church

INDIANAPOLIS -- Thousands of Indiana residents spent Memorial Day digging out from damage left by Sunday storms. Eleven tornadoes touched down across the state on Sunday, May 30, destroying or damaging more than 1,300 homes in five counties, according to the American Red Cross.

The Rev. Douglas L. Walker of Rosedale Hills in Indianapolis, South Indiana United Methodist Conference Disaster Response coordinator, reported to Indiana Area Bishop Woodie W. White that 62 houses were destroyed and more than 1,200 houses received major to minor damages due to the storm which even ended the Indianapolis 500 race on lap 180 making the race 20 laps short.

Walker recommended that South Indiana Conference Director the Rev. Robert Sharp and White request a $10,000 initial emergency grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief to aid some of these families.

Five of the twisters crossed the south part of Indianapolis ripping off the roof of a nursing home forcing the home's staff to evacuate 49 residents to nearby hospitals. Twisters also ripped the roof off of a middle school and destroyed 17 homes and damaged another 291 homes, according to the American Red Cross. City officials estimated damage between $10 and $11 million. No United Methodist Churches were reported as damaged.

An Indianapolis Power and Light Co. official said more than 2,800 Marion County residents continued to be without electricity today and hope to have service restored on Wednesday.

Counties suffering damages include Clark, Crawford, Washington, Floyd, Orange and Marion (Indianapolis). The hardest hit rural town was Marengo in Crawford County (30 miles west of Louisville, Ky.) where 27 of the town's 400 homes were destroyed and more than 100 homes were damaged. One man was killed in Marengo.

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