WEST MILTON, Ohio – Miami County officials told Spectrum News 1 at least 140 homes were damaged from severe storms on Memorial Day.
At least four tornadoes have been confirmed in the county, according to the National Weather Service. That includes a massive EF3 twister that left devastation in its path. The tornado, with winds near 140 miles per hour, was three-quarters of a mile wide and on the ground for nearly eleven miles.
Dale Pierce has lived on Range Line Road for 40 years. His house has only minor damage: a few missing shingles, a ripped off storm door, damaged gutters. The insurance adjustor estimated damage at $8,000.
His neighbors who live 30 feet away lost the entire roof of their house.
“There was six people in that house,” Pierce said in an interview with Spectrum News 1. “They crowded all in one bathroom with two dogs.”
Pierce, his wife, and their dog survived by throwing a heavy blanket on themselves while in the bathtub. He said he told his wife he didn't think they'd have a roof with all the noise the tornado produced.
In all, he lost nine of his ten trees.
FEMA officials will begin touring damaged areas later this week. Miami County officials have been busy gathering information about damaged homes since last week.
Miami County Commissioner Greg Simmons said as of Tuesday afternoon the county recorded nearly 140 homes affected in someway by the storms. Of those, 14 were destroyed and 26 suffered major damage.
County statistics along with the American Red Cross will be cross-checked with FEMA to determine what aid, if any, would be provided to the county.
At the Miami Lanes bowling alley in West Milton a temporary donation center has sprung up. Since Friday, an enormous amount of basic supplies have been donated. Katherine Applegate works at the bowling alley and offered to run the operation.
“We've taken stuff to big families and people that've lost their cars,” Applegate said. She wasn't sure how many people they've helped but they have plenty of necessities if people still are in need.
Another truckload of supplies was expected Monday evening.
The bowling alley has thousands of cases of water, baby supplies, canned food items, toiletries and hygiene products, toys, and other items. The bowling alley is posting hours available for pickup on its Facebook Page.
West Milton Police Department Chief Henry Busse said anyone who is still wanting to help affected residents in Miami County to consider donating to the American Red Cross. Busse said the amount of donations to the county has been overwhelming.
Miami County Assesses Storm Damage Ahead of FEMA Visit
PUBLISHED June 3, 2019 @4:55 PM