PENDLETON — Indiana State Police will be reopening part of the town of Pendleton as crews continue to assess the damage and clean up from the Memorial Day tornado.
The National Weather Service confirmed Tuesday that an EF-2 tornado was responsible for the damage, although the track of that damage was still being surveyed.
Our survey team has confirmed EF-2 damage northeast of Huntsville along the Pendleton tornado track. Survey still ongoing. #INwx
— NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) May 28, 2019
Indiana State Police will reopening the town from the east side up until Pendleton Avenue starting at 6 p.m. The west side of town will remain closed until further notice.
PHOTOS | Storms, possible tornadoes rip through central Indiana
Trees on houses, cars, power lines... @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/2vtSLC5wO1
— Alyssa Donovan (@AlyssaDonovanTV) May 28, 2019
The Red Cross has also set up at Pendleton Heights High School to provide assistance with local residents.
No fatalities have been reported from Monday evening's storms, which have left most of the residents of Pendleton without power and many of them unable to even get to their homes.
As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, between 1,500 and 2,000 residents were still without power, but Emergency Management Director Todd Hamerson said they hope to get those residents' power restored as quickly as possible.
Residents in multiple areas across town were evacuated following the storms, some because of power lines and others because of a large gas leak. An emergency shelter was opened up at Pendleton High School for anyone who did not have a place to go.
Emergency crews from surrounding cities and Indiana State Police are all in Madison County helping with traffic control and direction because of the significant amount of road closures.
The National Weather Service plants to send a team to the county to survey the storm damage sometime Tuesday.
Consumer Alert 🚨 following a severe storm that caused extensive damage in Pendleton in Madison County. @rtv6 @MeredithBarack @NicoleGriffinTV @AlannaMartella @AlyssaDonovanTV @ToddKlaassen @ToddHarmeson pic.twitter.com/JyupkjdsOI
— Rafael Sánchez (@RafaelOnTV) May 28, 2019
Watch the LIVE press conference with Madison County Emergency Management below
