Newton County Indiana Tornado Kills Elderly Couple, Levels Homes in Lake Village
Two people are dead, multiple others injured, and an entire small community is picking itself back up Wednesday after a tornado tore directly through Lake Village in Newton County, Indiana Tuesday evening — part of a violent four-tornado outbreak that carved a destruction path stretching nearly 50 miles across the Midwest.
Lake Village Takes a Direct Hit
Just before 7 p.m. Tuesday, a large tornado struck the community of Lake Village in Newton County, destroying homes and businesses. The tornado was reported by multiple firefighters serving as storm spotters.
Newton County Coroner Scott McCord confirmed in a news release that a tornado struck a home, killing an elderly couple. Their names have not yet been released. At least ten others sustained serious injuries. Rescuers discovered one man sitting inside his pickup truck, completely surrounded by downed trees. Another injured resident was found walking along a road.
Officials described Lake Village as "decimated," with the tornado carving a path of destruction 45 to 50 miles long. Fire Chief Rob Churchill did not mince words in his initial assessment. "Lake Village took a direct hit," he said. "We have multiple homes destroyed."
Secondary Search Underway Wednesday Morning
Lori Postma, public information officer for the Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department, confirmed Wednesday morning that Indiana Task Force One — a team of disaster response specialists — had arrived to conduct a secondary survey of the affected area.
People were trapped in their damaged homes and had to be rescued. Many roads were impassable, with at least 70 utility poles knocked down across the county. Fresh severe weather arriving Wednesday is hampering drone operations, preventing Indiana State Police from completing aerial damage assessments.
"Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now," Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran said in a video update recorded in front of a destroyed home in Lake Village. Residents were asked to remain home and allow first responders room to work.
Storm Impact Across Six Counties
The destruction was not limited to Newton County alone. Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield confirmed significant storm damage across parts of six Indiana counties — Newton, Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, and Starke.
Fifield also confirmed that ISP Superintendent Anthony Scott had personally briefed Governor Mike Braun on the storm's scope. The Department of Homeland Security took over management of the storm response Wednesday morning.
The supercell responsible for the Newton County tornado tracked from near Pontiac, Illinois, through Kankakee County, and into northwest Indiana before continuing toward Knox, Indiana — producing at least four suspected tornadoes along the way.
Firefighters' Own Homes Among the Destroyed
The storm did not spare the people charged with responding to it. The homes of four Lake Village Township volunteer firefighters were among the damaged and destroyed properties.
One Newton County resident, paramedic David Ferris, lived just south of the hardest-hit zone. Ferris, his wife, and their dogs rode out the storm in their downstairs bathtub and emerged unscathed, though they lost power.
"Considering the damage we've seen, I'm surprised there weren't more injuries," Postma said.
Shelter and Resources Open for Displaced Residents
North Newton High School in Lake Village opened as an emergency shelter for displaced residents, with the Red Cross assisting on site. The Lake Village Fire Department is also serving as a rallying point for response operations.
"We will be working feverishly to bring our little town back to where it once was," Postma said.
Newton County residents are being directed to contact Indiana 211 by calling 866-211-9966 to report storm damage. National Weather Service survey crews are deployed Wednesday in Newton and Jasper counties to confirm tornado tracks, intensity ratings, and total ground coverage from Tuesday's outbreak.
