HIGHLAND COUNTY, Ohio — Highland County is picking up the pieces, after the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado hit the northwestern part of the county Friday night. 

What You Need To Know

• A tornado touched down in High County, leaving behind downed trees and power lines and structural damage


• The damage even ripped the back of a barn off


• The NWS confirmed the tornado hit around 5:30 p.m. Friday night

"It's a first tornado I've ever seen,” said Tom Luschek, Highland County resident. “It kinda surprised us." 

Luschek's evening took him by surprised after strong winds came through the area. 

"It started blowing the trees in the yard and everything,” said Luschek. “Then, it came along here right along the creek here… took the trees down and back side of the barn." 

The tornado hit along U.S. 50 right by Luschek's home and nearby barn. 

It caused a trail of destruction, leaving behind several trees uprooted, limbs and power lines downed, and a roof ripped off a church just west of Hillsboro. 

But down the road, on Luschek's property, the back of his barn took the brunt of it. Part of his roof flew off, landing several feet away. 

Luschek said it hit while some of his animals were in the barn, and he is grateful nobody got hurt. 

"We didn't have [anybody] get hurt,” said Luschek. “It torn some shingles off my house, but we got that all done. This here... we can get another barn. Nobody got hurt." 

Now Luschek is left picking up the pieces. 

"Just cleaning up stuff here,” said Luschek. “Got a bunch of help come in, so we can fix the roof of the main part of the barn." 

Luschek said the barn's been here since the late 1800s, but his family moved into the property 35 years ago. 

While recovering from the storm, Luschek remains hopeful.

"Oh, yeah," he said. "We'll get through it."