BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio — It was a close call for families in Butler County’s Madison Township on Monday afternoon. Some of them narrowly escaped the damaging storms and spent the night cleaning up the damage left behind. 

What You Need To Know

  • Damaging storms ripped through Butler County on Monday afternoon 

  • Roofs were ripped off, barns were blown away and trees and power lines were down 

  • Several families were home when it happened, but no injuries were reported

Severe damage was found in Madison Township near West Alexandria and Elk Creek roads. 

An area residence had part of its roof ripped off and the front porch was gone. The homeowner said he was inside with his wife and two kids.

He said he saw the clouds swirling outside and then they went to the basement and to be safe. 

Just down the road, in the same area, another house sustained visible damage. The was roof torn off the entire house, and this time, an 18-year-old was inside.

He witnessed severe damage outside his window.

“I looked out outside my window here to the right, and then I saw like three trees get picked up in the air and like, tossed like they were, like, weightless,” said resident Canaan Kuykendolo. “And I was in shock and, like, I literally cannot believe it, and then before I had time to, like, react, I think the roof just, like, disappeared.”

Families spent the night cleaning out the damage and what was left of their houses, but for now, they said they’re just happy that they’re safe. 

The National Weather Service will determine the severity of the storms and whether it was a tornado that caused the damage beginning Tuesday.