Strong storms bring tornadoes, flooding to parts of Indiana

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Monday's strong storms brought tornadoes to central Indiana and record rainfall that flooded parts of South Bend.

National Weather Service crews surveyed damage Tuesday from tornado touchdowns that came in quick succession Monday near Danville, Pittsboro and Brownsburg, all west of Indianapolis. Forecasters said those touchdowns could have developed from the same tornado.

"It was mainly one long track, one that was kind of surviving through several counties that was touching down and going back up," National Weather Service meteorologist Tara Dudzik told The Indianapolis Star.

Preliminary findings from survey crews showed an EF-1 tornado, with possible wind speeds of 86 mph to 110 mph, struck a half mile east of Pittsboro in Hendricks County and EF-0 tornadoes, with possible wind speeds of 65-85 mph, struck Clayton, also in Hendricks County, and 4 miles west of Battleground in Tippecanoe County, the weather service said.

Several additional tornadoes likely will be confirmed, it said.

Hendricks County Sheriff's Department Captain Amanda Goings said no injuries were reported Monday night.

Residents were cleaning Monday and Tuesday.

"I was home five minutes, and I could tell something was brewing, and the swirling was evident, and the noise was just tremendous," said Joe Gleissner, 54, of Brownsburg, where a tree was downed in his yard and parts of his fence were destroyed. "They say it sounds like a train. I think it was worse."

In South Bend, city officials asked residents to stay home and off the roads because of flooding. City officials said several water rescues were made after floodwaters left vehicles stranded.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg said early Tuesday that two houses collapsed.

Monday's storm brought nearly 8.5 inches to South Bend International Airport. A weather spotter in Walkerton reported 10.45 inches.

Flood warnings were issued through Tuesday afternoon for St. Joseph, Elkhart, LaPorte, Marshall counties. The Red Cross has opened an emergency shelter in South Bend and the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend is closed for the day due to a flooded parking lot and zoo grounds.