DELAWARE, Ohio — Olentangy Schools closed Friday and several thousand residents in Delaware County were without power after strong winds and storms moved through the area causing downed power lines and trees.
The area that saw the most damage was Berlin Township, Berkshire Township and the Village of Galena.
Delaware County EMA does not believe there have been any fatalities as a result of the storm, but there was damage to several properties damage due to lightning and fallen trees.
Olentangy Schools also closed due to the widespread damage. Olentangy Berlin High School was inaccessible by vehicle Friday morning due to a downed tree and power line on Berlin Station Road.
The storm caused damage to the high school's scoreboard, which appeared to be ripped in half, the concession stand doors and the fencing surrounding the baseball field.
There is metal strewn across the fields and part of the football bleachers were damaged. Generators were seen arriving at the high school Friday.
On Berlin Station Road, barns were destroyed by the high winds including that of Francis McNamara.
The 80-year-old tells 10TV he’s never seen a storm like this before.
“I've never seen anything like it and I hope I never see it again. All of sudden, we can hear this noise and we thought we lost the whole house,” he said.
He didn’t lose the house but he did lose most of his barns.
The winds crushed a cinder block wall and much of his barn collapsed on his farming equipment.
Sharak Patel says he had no idea the storm was coming until he got an alert on his phone and then his family of eight ran into the basement.
“The house shook a little bit, then it was just rain slapping against the house. We saw the tower bend but didn’t see it go the ground until we were able to come outside. We are going to a hotel because we don’t have power,” he said.
The head of the Delaware County EMA tells 10TV that at least nine roads remained blocked from debris and more than 1,800 people are without power.
Authorities said a train stopped and blocked Berlin Station Road near Glenn Parkway Friday morning after it reportedly struck a fallen tree. Norfolk Southern is working on the stopped train.
Delaware County officials said that a tower holding power lines off Cheshire Road collapsed during the storm and is lying on a field. The power lines were hanging too low for traffic, causing the closure of Cheshire and Piatt roads and several properties in the area to lose power.
According to officials, the power company crew said they have reported preliminary that it will take days to fix the tower.
"Suspected tornadoes touched down in Delaware County, breaking at least 30 utility poles and toppling six high-voltage transmission towers. As damage assessment continues in the daylight, we expect to uncover more broken poles and equipment," a statement from AEP Ohio read.
As of noon on Friday, nearly 6,000 AEP Ohio customers are without power in Delaware County.
The American Red Cross Central and Southern Ohio Region is operating a shelter at the Delaware Community YMCA, 1121 S. Houk Rd., for those who need housing or shelter.
Anyone needing assistance from the Red Cross is asked to call 1-800-Red Cross.
