Three Livestock Killed, No Human Injuries Reported
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Huntsburg Township at about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, damaging a large barn, two smaller outbuildings, a vehicle and killing three livestock, according to county officials.
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Huntsburg Township at about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, damaging a large barn, two smaller outbuildings, a vehicle and killing three livestock, according to county officials.
“The tornado was short-lived, lasting only a few minutes and covering a distance of approximately a quarter mile,” said County Administrator Amy Bevan in a statement.
“This morning, Geauga County officials coordinated with the National Weather Service, which deployed a team to assess the area and confirm the classification of the tornado.”
The tornado began just west of Madison Road (state Route 528) just south of Burton-Windsor Road and roughly three miles northeast of Middlefield, the NWS said in its report summary.
“The tornado uprooted a large tree, with several large limbs snapped off trees in this area,” the NWS said. “The tornado continued to the northeast, crossing Madison Road, damaging three buildings on a property on the east side of the road. Two smaller outbuildings suffered extensive roof damage, with a larger barn suffering roof damage, as well.”
Roofing material was also thrown several hundred feet towards the west onto the roadway, the NWS reported.
“Companies responded to three runs caused by this weather event Tuesday evening,” Middlefield Fire Department said in a social media post. “For everyone wondering about the warning or sirens, there was no official warning last night. The declaration of this event being a tornado was after evaluation of the damage by the National Weather Service at the request of the fire department.”
Geauga County Commissioners said they were thankful the tornado did not do worse damage in a statement Aug. 14.
“We’re grateful to report there were no major injuries from Tuesday night’s brief EF-0 tornado in Huntsburg,” they said. “The Geauga County Department of Emergency Services, which operates under the board of county commissioners, continues to monitor and respond to severe weather events to help keep our community safe.”
Wednesday evening, Deborah Morgan set up a GoFundMe page for her daughter KC Pierce’s horse training farm, KC’s TReining Center, which was one of the buildings hit during the tornado. Several horses were critically injured and one of them did not survive, Morgan said.
“Buildings lost roofs and tragically one horse was so critically injured, it had to be put down. Others were injured by flying debris and two are in the horse hospital in Burton,” Morgan said on the GoFundMe page. “These funds will be used to help pay the astronomical vet bills on the two injured client horses as the vets work to save them. One is a mare that is (pregnant), so there’s an extra life at stake. Hundreds of people know KC Pierce, many of them have been in the horse business with her over the years. There is a lot to deal with when Mother Nature unleashes her fury — you feel it physically, financially and emotionally. If you can help, It would be greatly appreciated.”
The GoFundMe has already raised more than $2,660 as of Friday afternoon.
