“While Greene County has been hit more frequently than any other county in our area, there is no scientific reason as to why that is the case,” Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Jamie Simpson said.
Wednesday’s tornado touched down about 6:12 p.m. near the village of Cedarville. The National Weather Service released a preliminary report, classifying it as an EF3, meaning wind speeds reached an estimated 145 miles per hour.
The storm destroyed two houses and several other structures. Seven people were trapped in the basement of a home, but were rescued after nearly 30 minutes. There are no reported fatalities.
Duane Hartman, who lives near Cedarville, watched the tornado as it travelled past his house and damaged his neighbors’ houses.
“I was watching through my video camera when it hit my neighbor’s garage and it just exploded into the air,” he said.
Hartman could also feel the change in air pressure from the intense winds of the storm, he said, adding that he heard the wind growl as it started to pick up.
“The Indians called this the land of the bad winds,” he said, referring to the rumors about severe storms in Greene County.
The Native American Council dispelled the myth a long time ago, Simpson said. As a matter of fact, 15 tornadoes have touched down in Greene County since 1950, which amounts to one every five years, according to the National Weather Service.
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