Homes, structures destroyed, damaged power lines downed
Tornado tears through Holton
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

A tornado roared through the county Friday night, leaving the most damage behind in the town of Holton, displacing families, damaging homes, buildings and tearing trees up by their roots as it traveled about a two mile stretch causing an estimated $465,000 worth of damage.

Friday evening, July 30, the clouds overhead the town of Holton changed and instead of the familiar sound of a freight train coming down the tracks, it was exactly what had been predicted, a tornado.

Receiving ample warning probably kept injuries to a minimum as people scrambled to safety as the warning was given.

"I could hear the terrifying sound," began Otter Creek Township Trustee Cynthia Melton, who lives in Holton. She continued by saying it sounded exactly like most people describe it - like a freight train.

"I put Maggie (the couple's pet monkey) in her carrier and headed for the church," noted Wilma Myers, who said she wasn't all that upset at the time, but took cover at the insistence of her daughter, April. Wilma and husband Wilbur live on North Marion Street and were directly in the path that the tornado took.

Next door to the Myers was one of the homes hardest hit, one they own and rent to Krissy Downey, who lived there with her 5-year-old son. One of the oldest if not the oldest home in the town, this brick house sustained heavy damage with the entire roof swept off and winds whirling things around and out of the home.

The tornado tumbled the mobile home in which Paula Compton was sleeping. Saying she was lucky to be alive, Compton told news media, "God has a plan for my life." She was transported to Jennings County Hospital for minor injuries.

Although Tim Tyler of 800 W. lost his hanger and two ultra light aircraft, he said his family was lucky. "We're all still here and no one's hurt," he noted just moments after the tornado hit his place just west of Holton.

His house also sustained damage to the roof and then the tornado continued its path crossing County Road 800 West, jumping over the home of Doug and Myrna Cox and taking out a huge tree in their backyard by its roots. Another maple tree was also destroyed. "I planted that tree from a little seedling," Mynra noted holding up a finger to indicate its initial size. "It's just sad."

Just down the road on 800 West, the Glen Bush property received minor damage to an outbuilding. Bush was out checking on neighbors and friends early on Saturday morning, saying his damage was nothing compared to what others had suffered.

People in the town of Holton and outlying areas were without power until about 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning as Cinergy crews worked throughout the night. Some Holton residents were without power longer because of damage to their individual homes. Downed power lines halted the progress of an eastbound train coming from North Vernon through Holton.

Ripley County Emergency Management gave a report of the total damage saying there was one injury that required transport to a hospital, one person treated at the scene, a mobile home was destroyed, one house destroyed, 4 houses with major damage, 15 houses with minor damage, 3 barns destroyed along with two airplanes, 10 barns with minor damage, 2 mobile homes with minor damage, 2 businesses with minor damage, the new Holton Community Center received minor damage, numerous trees downed along with poles and many wires. There was also
damage to a number of vehicles.

Emergency Management personnel were immediately on the scene along with Red Cross who set up in the Holton Christian Church. These agencies worked together with police and firemen throughout the night and into the day on Saturday.

"Seeing all the agencies working together gives me confidence that if a major disaster ever hit Ripley County, we have the people to take care of it," noted Captain David Pippin, chief deputy for the Ripley County Sheriff's Department. Captain Pippin was in charge of the department in the absence of Sheriff Bill Davison who was attending a mandatory training when the tornado struck the county. When he referred to a major disaster, the officer said he was thinking about a terrorist attack or something of that nature.

Pippin noted that the Ripley County Fairground Park was evacuated quickly and efficiently due to the quick response of the EMA personnel. "They (Ripley County EMA) were set up at the fair and were monitoring the weather. Dan Mulford, Deputy Director for EMA suggested we begin to evacuate. We had about 30 to 45 minutes advance warning which helped to get people where they needed to be," he noted.

"Everyone knows their job and everyone does it," Pippin commented as he told of the fairground evacuation. "Thanks to the EMA personnel, law enforcement officers, FOP members and the people who cooperated beautifully, the effort went smoothly," he concluded.

Pippin noted that as the last cars were leaving the fairground, the call came in that a tornado had touched down in Holton. Police and EMA immediately responded to find the chaos of downed lines and debris, which at night is hard to determine the true damage.

Pippin said that police stayed in place to secure the area making sure people didn't come through the areas where power lines were down.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT/WOODY BUSH PHOTOS

After a tornado swept through Holton Friday night, two airplanes and the hanger they were housed in at the Tim Tyler residence on 800 W. were destroyed.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT/WOODY BUSH PHOTOS

Tyler talks with a reporter from Channel 19 news on Saturday morning as his sister Betty Jones looks on.