KOKOMO, Ind. – One year has passed since an EF-3 tornado ripped through Kokomo, damaging homes, schools and business. Those who lived through the experience said they are still impacted.
Homes in the area are being rebuilt, but many structures still show evidence of the 300-yard-wide tornado.
Tony Taflinger said he remembers watching the weather from the police station.
"People just walking around in a daze,” said Taflinger. “The sun was shining the rain was over and everything was gone - the trees and everything. Everybody was here immediately helping each other out and just trying to get it all sorted out.”
The Kokomo tornado, labeled by the National Weather Service as a "particularly dangerous situation,"brought winds of over 150 mph and stayed on the ground for more than 10 minutes. The storm even caused a Starbucks near Markland Mall to completely flattened in seconds.
Sherry Huff said she was home with her pregnant granddaughter during the storm.
"We got behind the loveseat and pulled it beside the supporting wall in the living room,” she said.
Huff said since the storm she’s taken extra precautions, like installing a tornado shelter stocked with water and food.
“I hope I never have to use it,” she said. "This just makes me feel a little bit safer I guess you would say, gives me piece of mind.”
Since August 2016, Indiana has seen eight tornadoes.
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