Storm survey teams are on the ground Wednesday assessing damage left by two possible tornadoes Tuesday evening.
National Weather Service officials have reports of two tornado touchdowns in the Akron area, though they were short-lived.
“We’re still assessing what the damage is and if it could have been from winds,” said Kari Bowen, meteorologist for the weather service.
Lisa Myers, who photographed large hail in Holyoke on Tuesday night, said in an online post that although the hail was large, “they weren’t all that heavy,” and with little wind, the damage was minimal in her area. Most of the hail was marble size, she said, with “probably only 20 percent being ping pong ball or bigger.”
“Noise was horrific,” though, she added.
Jerry Patterson, the publisher for the Otis Telegraph in Otis, east of Akron, said there were several houses, barns and sheds that were severely damaged. None of the homes were left inhabitable, as far as the reports he was aware of, Patterson said.
Officials also have reports of downed power lines and damage from hail that has been reported larger than an inch in diameter.
“Nobody was hurt, thankfully,” Patterson said.
When the storm started around 7 p.m., Kendra Anderson, superintendent of the Otis School District, was standing outside the school watching the skies, while inside the district held an award ceremony and an eighth-grade continuation.
“I had heard there was a funnel, so I was watching for that coming from the west,” Anderson said. “But the major part of the storm was right north of us.”
She didn’t see the tornado that she believes did touch down, but she thinks she heard when it hit about a mile north of the school.
“As it drew closer and I was able to hear a really loud roar, just north of us, I chose to get everyone into our designated tornado shelters,” Anderson said.
She ushered about 150 people into the tornado shelters.
“We’ve never had to do that before, but we have practiced for this many, many times,” Anderson said. “Everyone did really, really well. I have a great safety director who was on site with their own family.”
People stayed in the school shelter for about 20 minutes.
One tree on the school property did fall, and the school building did sustain damage to the roof on the west side.
“We are very concerned about it leaking,” Anderson said. “It lifted up and peeled back. Itap raised about two feet. We know we can’t just get it fixed quickly, so we’re trying to figure out how to protect the inside of the building.”
Otis students have their last day of classes Friday, and graduations are on Sunday.
Randy Ison, owner of Ison Oil in Platner, is also assessing damage to his gas station, auto shop in Platner, also east of Akron.
“I know it damaged some signage and windows and my truck equipment,” Ison said. “Itap probably several dollars.”
But itap been worse, he added.
