Powerful storms impacted the US Midwest on Tuesday, causing three deaths and leaving more than 800,000 people without power across four states. Wind gusts of over 80mph (130km/h) were reported, tearing down trees and power lines.
In Indiana, a four-year-old child died after a tree fell on their home in Geneva Township, and another person died in Portage following a suspected weather-related house explosion. Ohio's Governor Mike DeWine stated that one person died in Roseville after flooding prevented first responders from reaching them.
The National Weather Service issued warnings for flash flooding, tornadoes, and dangerous straight-line winds. Governor DeWine declared a state of emergency in Perry and Muskingum counties due to severe flooding, which led to residents being evacuated by swift water rescue teams. The National Weather Service has warned of "considerable flooding" in Ohio through Friday.
As of Wednesday morning, nearly 800,000 electricity customers in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky remained without power, according to poweroutage.us. Utility provider AEP, which has over 2,000 workers attempting to restore electricity, reported that the Columbus, Ohio, area experienced gusts exceeding 80mph and trees falling on power lines. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther indicated that power restoration could take several days.