Howard County- Howard County Emergency Management and the Red Cross have set up a shelter for tornado victims at the Kokomo Event Center on 1500 North Reed Road, Kokomo, IN.
As of right now, in rural Howard County and the city of Kokomo, there are approximately 15 to 20 people injured. All of the reported injuries are considered minor at this time. Most of the injuries were the result of flying debris. There are no reported deaths.
There are numerous structures with damage. The largest concentration of damage is in the area of 931 and State Road 22 in Kokomo. There are thousands of homes and businesses without power.
Howard County Board of Commissioners and Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight have declared a Temporary State of Emergency in Kokomo and Howard County. (Attached with release). All roads in Kokomo and Howard County are closed to everyone except emergency vehicles performing essential functions of government, public health, and safety. People can travel when necessary for work, school, medical needs, groceries etc..
Officers from the Howard County Sheriff’s Department’s, the Kokomo Police Department, and the Indiana State Police offer the following reminder:
• Do not drive around looking for storm damage. Most areas are still under assessment and could have potential hazards.
• Be prepared to show police officers your identification when returning to your neighborhood. This is so officers can verify who belongs in the area
• Follow the directions of emergency personnel whom you might encounter. Do not drive around closed road signs.
• Be aware of potential scammers. Carefully vet anyone who offers to repair storm damage.
• Officers will have zero tolerance for anyone who loots the property of others during this emergency. All looters will be arrested.
We ask that people do not self-deploy to the area to offer help. Sometimes that causes more confusion than assistance. Information will be made available, at a later time, for those wishing to offer assistance.
There are numerous emergency and service organizations, in Howard County and Kokomo, assisting with this emergency.
