HOWARD COUNTY, Ind. – Gov. Mike Pence spent much of his day Thursday visiting storm victims and first responders in Howard and Montgomery Counties - the two areas hit hardest by Wednesday's tornadoes.
"I want to commend the neighbors and friends who are already in front yards helping neighbors, and in many cases, helping strangers put their lives back together. This is what makes Indiana a very special place," he said.
Pence left the campaign trail Wednesday in the wake of several damaging tornadoes in Central Indiana.
Once in Indiana, he met with officials at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Emergency Operations Center to learn more about severe weather damage across the state.
At the @IDHS Emergency Operations Center as the state tracks reports of severe weather damage across #Indiana pic.twitter.com/04jmiPnM79
— Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) August 24, 2016
There were no reports of serious injuries or deaths as a result of the storms.
A joint City of Kokomo-Howard County state of emergency has been declared: pic.twitter.com/2wCBF1L7Xf
— City of Kokomo (@CityofKokomo) August 24, 2016
Pence addressed the media and provided updated information on Wednesday’s storms.
RELATED | Damage rampant after EF3 tornado blasts Kokomo
Wednesday’s severe weather by the numbers in Central Indiana:
- 27 counties reported tornado warnings
- 8 confirmed tornadoes
- 3 tornadoes touched down
- 15 homes damaged in Howard County along with several local businesses
- 30 homes damaged homes damaged in Montgomery County
- 10 to 15 minor injuries are being monitored in Howard County
RELATED | Tornado touches down on Indy's northeast side
"It’s truly remarkable that there are such a few number of injuries or worse in the wake of this storm given the fact it struck Howard county virtually at shift change in a great manufacturing town and at the time kids were getting out of school. It was just about the worst possible time and it’s an extraordinary credit to the local community and first responders," said Pence.
