BLOOMINGTON − Emergency responders were surveying damage early Thursday and said at least one woman suffered injuries after a powerful storm with what the National Weather Service called a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado hit the northwest portion of Monroe County near the Owen and Morgan county lines.
The storm struck about 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, the storm crossed Interstate 69, downing trees that led to the closure of the highway at Mile Marker 130, about four miles south of Martinsville.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said early Thursday the local dispatch center began receiving calls about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, reporting severe damage to homes and properties in the northwest part of Monroe County. Others requested welfare checks on family members they were unable to contact.
The areas mainly affected, the sheriff’s report said, were the 9300 block of North Buskirk Road, the 9400 block of Spradling Road and the 500 to 2400 blocks of Burma Road. One woman was believed to have a broken ankle and possible broken or dislocated hip after the storm hit her mobile home, the report said. She was transported to a local hospital, according the Monroe County EMS officials.
First responders had to access many of the affected houses on foot due to the large volume of trees blocking roads, the report said.
Agencies responding included the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Ellettsville Police Department, Stinesville Police Department and the Indiana State Police, as well as the Monroe County Fire Protection District and other local fire departments. Together they worked to restore access to the area and conduct door-to-door welfare checks.
The report requested that people avoid the area on Thursday while the Monroe County Highway Department works to clear roads.
Justin Baker, director of Monroe County Emergency Management Agency, requested that people refrain from traveling in the rural area near Stinesville and in areas near the Owen and Morgan county borders. In a news release, Baker also asked motorists to avoid Bottom Road due to flooding.
Baker said EMA officials were out conducting damage assessments to determine the extent of the damage from the storm. The American Red Cross has opened a temporary emergency shelter at the Stinesville Community Center (the old Stinesville Elementary School) at 7951 Main St. The shelter is a place where storm survivors can find safe shelter and receive immediate disaster relief and assistance. The shelter will remain open until further notice. Anyone with questions can contact Baker at justinbaker@co.monroe.in.us or call 812-325-4321.
REMC is working to restore power after many of the lines in the area were wrapped around trees, the report said.
Investigators from the National Weather Service expect to soon depart for three Indiana counties to survey damage from Wednesday night’s tornados.
Results from the investigation could be available as early as Thursday evening, but that was uncertain, as the extent of the damage had yet to be determined, said Crystal Pettet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.
In a bulletin issued shortly before 10 p.m., the National Weather Service warned of a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado some eight miles northeast of Spencer in Owen County, about 13 miles northwest of Bloomington. The tornado had been observed on the ground by spotters, but its size and intensity will be determined by the NWS survey teams.
Pettet said Thursday morning that the NWS central office would send out three teams to Clay, Jackson and Monroe counties, but she said other offices may send out additional teams.
Carol Kugler can be reached at ckugler@heraldt.com. Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: At least 1 person hurt after storms, tornado hit Monroe County
Reporting by Carol Kugler and Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Carol Kugler and Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
