Crews are continuing to assess damage in Goshen, Ohio where powerful storms and an EF2 tornado hit on Wednesday. The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF2 tornado touched down in Goshen during Wednesday’s storms.The NWS said after surveying the damage, they confirmed in coordination with Clermont County Emergency Management has confirmed that damage from the tornado is consistent with EF2 category wind speeds.More details will be sent later Thursday afternoon after the full survey is conducted.According to NWS, an EF2 tornado has strong winds of 111 mph to 135 mph.Goshen Township administrator Steve Pegram said officials went door to door Wednesday to check on every resident following the storms.Pegram said there are still only two reported injuries, one injured by falling debris and a firefighter injured while using a chainsaw to move debris.A state of emergency remains in effect for the area. Pegram estimates there are around 150 to 200 structures that they know are damaged. Some of the hardest-hit buildings include the police station, fire station and schools.”We’re lucky, we’re very blessed, it could have been a lot, lot worse,” Pegram said.Duke Energy said the damage in Goshen will require much of the town’s electrical system to be rebuilt, pushing restoration into Sunday. The storm also destroyed numerous electric transmission and distribution facilities, including substations, utility poles, power lines and other key system components, the company said. Pegram said Duke has dozens of crews already in the area and hundreds on the way. Pegram said the hardest-hit areas were in more rural communities so not as many houses were hit hard.”We have a lot of power that is out and it will be days before it’s restored,” Pegram said.He said those who don’t have power should plan through the weekend, and make sure they have a place to go. There is an emergency shelter at Goshen High School at 6707 Goshen Road for any residents that need resources like food, water and oxygen for those who rely on it.The county emergency management has also established a hotline for help. The number is 513-735-8500. Pegram said they will be doing damage assessment and cleanup Thursday, going back out and talking with every resident to assess structures to determine if they are occupiable. “Slowly but surely, power is coming on,” Pegram said. ” But especially in the downtown Goshen area, and moving south, Woodville Pike Cedarville Road, it may be days before those people have power again.” Pegram said the storm hit about 30 seconds after he received a weather alert so it wasn’t even enough time to hit the siren at the firehouse.”They definitely had that stunned look on their face that they just gone through something scary,” Pegram said. Pegram said Goshen is a tight-knit community and people have been helping others since the storm hit.”What happens in Goshen, we take care of our own,” Pegram said. “Neighbors helping neighbors.””We didn’t have time to talk about it. We got the trucks out of the building and started to respond to calls,” he continued. Pegram said he can’t estimate damage costs yet but said the township insurance company has been on site and said to address damage now and worry about the cost later. Residents were shaken up by the storms that hit Goshen. “It was the worst thing that I’ve ever been through. The sound was, it was deafening,” resident Nan Pitman said. “I thought I would walk up the stairs and find nothing and thank God I didn’t and thank God everybody’s OK, but I’ve never been through anything like this in my life and I hope I never have to go through it again. VIDEO: Goshen Twp residents react to severe storms, tornadoViewers sent in photos and videos of the damage to the area.The Goshen Fire Department took a major hit as strong winds ripped off the roof of the building. Firefighters were inside the station during the damage, luckily no one was hurt. WATCH: Residents search through debris after tornado Officials are warning residents to be cautious of down power lines and trees. Several roads are closed as emergency crews work to clear debris. A full list of road closures can be found here. Duke Energy officials said if you come across a down power line, do not attempt to move it and call 911.
Crews are continuing to assess damage in Goshen, Ohio where powerful storms and an EF2 tornado hit on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF2 tornado touched down in Goshen during Wednesday’s storms.
The NWS said after surveying the damage, they confirmed in coordination with Clermont County Emergency Management has confirmed that damage from the tornado is consistent with EF2 category wind speeds.
More details will be sent later Thursday afternoon after the full survey is conducted.
According to NWS, an EF2 tornado has strong winds of 111 mph to 135 mph.
Goshen Township administrator Steve Pegram said officials went door to door Wednesday to check on every resident following the storms.
Pegram said there are still only two reported injuries, one injured by falling debris and a firefighter injured while using a chainsaw to move debris.
A state of emergency remains in effect for the area.
Pegram estimates there are around 150 to 200 structures that they know are damaged. Some of the hardest-hit buildings include the police station, fire station and schools.
“We’re lucky, we’re very blessed, it could have been a lot, lot worse,” Pegram said.
Duke Energy said the damage in Goshen will require much of the town’s electrical system to be rebuilt, pushing restoration into Sunday.
The storm also destroyed numerous electric transmission and distribution facilities, including substations, utility poles, power lines and other key system components, the company said.
Pegram said Duke has dozens of crews already in the area and hundreds on the way.
Pegram said the hardest-hit areas were in more rural communities so not as many houses were hit hard.
“We have a lot of power that is out and it will be days before it’s restored,” Pegram said.
He said those who don’t have power should plan through the weekend, and make sure they have a place to go.
There is an emergency shelter at Goshen High School at 6707 Goshen Road for any residents that need resources like food, water and oxygen for those who rely on it.
The county emergency management has also established a hotline for help. The number is 513-735-8500.
Pegram said they will be doing damage assessment and cleanup Thursday, going back out and talking with every resident to assess structures to determine if they are occupiable.
“Slowly but surely, power is coming on,” Pegram said. ” But especially in the downtown Goshen area, and moving south, Woodville Pike Cedarville Road, it may be days before those people have power again.”
Pegram said the storm hit about 30 seconds after he received a weather alert so it wasn’t even enough time to hit the siren at the firehouse.
“They definitely had that stunned look on their face that they just gone through something scary,” Pegram said.
Pegram said Goshen is a tight-knit community and people have been helping others since the storm hit.
“What happens in Goshen, we take care of our own,” Pegram said. “Neighbors helping neighbors.”
“We didn’t have time to talk about it. We got the trucks out of the building and started to respond to calls,” he continued.
Pegram said he can’t estimate damage costs yet but said the township insurance company has been on site and said to address damage now and worry about the cost later.
Residents were shaken up by the storms that hit Goshen.
“It was the worst thing that I’ve ever been through. The sound was, it was deafening,” resident Nan Pitman said. “I thought I would walk up the stairs and find nothing and thank God I didn’t and thank God everybody’s OK, but I’ve never been through anything like this in my life and I hope I never have to go through it again.
VIDEO: Goshen Twp residents react to severe storms, tornado
Viewers sent in photos and videos of the damage to the area.
The Goshen Fire Department took a major hit as strong winds ripped off the roof of the building. Firefighters were inside the station during the damage, luckily no one was hurt.
WATCH: Residents search through debris after tornado
Officials are warning residents to be cautious of down power lines and trees. Several roads are closed as emergency crews work to clear debris.
A full list of road closures can be found here.
Duke Energy officials said if you come across a down power line, do not attempt to move it and call 911.
