OAKLAND CITY, IN (WFIE) -
Oakland City has been hit pretty hard by the severe weather that went throughout the Tri-State earlier this evening.
City officials say they are going to be declaring Oakland City a disaster area. Because of the severe damage left by the storm, officials have set up a shelter at the local fire station for those who need help.
Officials say the town is considered shut down and if you don't live there, ISP will not let you in.
Our crew on scene says that police are working a grid system and hope to open main roads to one lane.
Gibson County Sheriff George Ballard says the severe thunderstorm came went through Oakland City ten minutes before a parade started at the Sweet Corn Festival.
The sheriff says that four people have been injured. One of those injuries was a foot injury and the victim was transported to the hospital. The other three were treated and released at the scene for cuts, nothing major.
Ballard says quite a few people were at the parade, and when the hail started coming down about two inches in diameter, that made people start to run.
The sheriff says that the storms took power out for about half the town and they are still without power. They say that Duke energy might be able to restore some power on Wednesday.
He also says that trees, power lines, and power poles were taken down. The storm also knocked over grain bins, caused roof damage to several houses, and blew trees into houses. Ballard says a few houses are destroyed, but not more than a couple.
Officials say there was a propane tank leak earlier in the evening. Crews now have that fixed and everyone they evacuated because of the leak, are back in their homes.
Crews say they won't have a reports on structure damage until Wednesday morning.
Ballard says that officials are trying to restore power and make sure people don't go strolling around in any live power lines.
Officials say there is a curfew in effect from 10:15 p.m. tonight to 6:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
Source: Wendy Johnson
Source: Wendy Johnson
Source: Jason Davis
