Widespread power outages and extensive property damage is being reported across the region a result of the severe storms that ravaged Madison and surrounding counties Sunday night.
70-80 mph wind gusts, along with nickel to ping pong ball size hail, pummeled the area for around an hour before midnight. There were unconfirmed reports of a tornado near the Eastern Bypass and Four Mile Road. Estill and Lee County were under a tornado warning after 11 p.m. as well.
WBON-TV 9 viewers have reported the hail storm destroyed glass in their vehicles and homes in the area. The hail beat the vinyl siding off of some homes.
There are numerous instances of trees down on roads, vehicles, and power lines. Many roads are still blocked. The hail came down fast and with intensity, with some photos showing the ice piling up to about an inch or more in a matter of minutes, breaking windows, and doing extensive damage to vehicles. Intense lightning strikes added to the damaging mix.
Many Madison Countians reported concern that their new FM Alert emergency notification radios did not alert them of the impending severe weather, nor did the emergency sirens activate.
WBON-TV 9 is compiling viewer photos and live video of the storm and damages for Mondays LIVE at FIVE newscast on channel 9, and seeking answers about the new tone alert radios and local sirens failing to activate.
Many homes and businesses still remained without power earlier today. Many local restaurants could not serve lunch as they were still in the dark, including Logan’s, Olive Garden, Golden Corral, and others.
National Weather Service Damage Survey Teams plan to survey Madison County as well as several locations over southern Indiana and central Kentucky with significant damage from last night’s storms.
