The Latest: NOAA: 52 suspected tornadoes swept central US

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DAYTON, Ohio

The Latest on damaging storms across the central United States (all times local):

8:50 a.m.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says preliminary storm reports show that 52 tornadoes may have touched down Monday across eight states as waves of severe weather swept across the nation’s mid-section.

A tally of storm reports posted online by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, shows that 14 suspected tornadoes touched down in Indiana, 10 in Colorado and nine in Ohio.

Six suspected tornadoes were reported in Iowa, five in Nebraska, four in Illinois, three in Minnesota, while one suspected tornado was reported in Idaho in the West.

No fatalities were immediately reported.

Patrick Marsh is the Storm Prediction Center’s warning coordination meteorologist. He says National Weather Service crews were heading to the affected areas to determine if tornadoes caused the damage, or high winds.

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8:45 a.m.

The police chief of a small Ohio city says overnight storms severely damaged the local high school, flipped cars and destroyed some houses.

Brookville chief Doug Jerome said Tuesday that at least half the homes in a single subdivision sustained serious damage. But Jerome says no fatalities were reported in the city, which is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Dayton, and only three minor injuries.

Jerome said the storm took off part of the roof at Brookville High School, tossed some cars into houses and ripped up numerous large trees.

A series of apparent tornadoes caused extensive damage in Dayton and communities north and northwest of the city, and also destroyed homes in Indiana.

Actor Rob Lowe, a Dayton native, tweeted “Praying for my hometown” on Tuesday.

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8 a.m.

Authorities in Dayton, Ohio, say a series of apparent tornadoes caused a few minor injuries but no reported fatalities within the city.

Dayton Fire Chief Jeffrey Payne called that “pretty miraculous” during a Tuesday morning briefing. Payne attributed the good news to people heeding early warnings about the storm.

Residents say sirens started going off around 10:30 p.m. Monday ahead of the storm.

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley urged residents to check on neighbors, especially those who are housebound.

Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein says a boil advisory has been issued for residents after the storms cut power to Dayton’s pump stations. She says generators are being rushed in.

The storms caused severe damage in communities northwest of Dayton, where officials were still assessing damage, and also damaged at least 75 homes in Indiana.

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7:15 a.m.

The president has tweeted his support for tornado survivors in Oklahoma, where two people were killed and 29 were injured by a twister that struck a motel and mobile home park over the weekend.

Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday morning that he spoke with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt from Japan and told him that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the “federal government are fully behind him and the great people of Oklahoma.”

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6:25 a.m.

Emergency crews are going door-to-door checking homes in Indiana after damaging storms spawned apparent tornadoes in the state and in Ohio.

Madison County Emergency Management spokesman Todd Harmeson says least 75 homes were damaged in Pendleton and the nearby community of Huntsville. No serious injuries were reported in the area or other parts of the state where possible tornadoes hit Monday night.

Madison County authorities say roads in Pendleton, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Indianapolis, are blocked with trees, downed power lines and utility poles. Pendleton High School is open as a shelter.

The National Weather Service says a survey team will investigate damage in Madison County and possibly in Henry County. Another team may survey damage in Tippecanoe County.

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6 a.m.

The energy company serving the Dayton, Ohio, area says at least 64,000 customers are without power following a series of apparent tornadoes.

Dayton Power & Light said in a tweet early Tuesday it was undertaking a “multi-day restoration effort” and urged customers to make emergency backup plans.

The National Weather Service reported earlier more than 70,000 outages across Ohio, affecting more than 5 million people.

The service confirmed Monday night that a “large and dangerous tornado” hit near Trotwood, Ohio, outside of Dayton.

The storm tore roofs off several apartment buildings in Trotwood.

Multiple schools are closed or starting late around Dayton following the storm damage.

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2:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service says there are more 70,000 power outages across the state of Ohio, affecting over 5 million people.

The service tweeted Tuesday morning that to send reports of outages via social media or email if possible.

It also says the tornado threat has “exited our area of responsibility.”

The service confirmed Monday night that a “large and dangerous tornado” hit near Trotwood, Ohio, outside of Dayton. ___

1:45 a.m.

An Indiana town was heavily damaged by storms, including reports of two tornados.

WRTV-TV reports that Madison County Emergency Management spokesman Todd Harmeson said Tuesday morning that, “We do not know at this time if this was a tornado, straight-line winds or what the cause was” of damage in Pendleton. He says there are several videos floating around that show funnel clouds but that the National Weather Service will make that determination.

Harmeson says residents should stay indoors due to energized downed powerlines on the ground. “We just believe at this time it is not safe,” he said. He says an estimated 4,000 people are without power.

Pendleton residents being evacuated can go to the Pendleton High School cafeteria for shelter.

Pendleton is 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Indianapolis.

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12:23 a.m.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is using snow plows to remove debris off an Ohio highway after a “large and dangerous” tornado hit the area late Monday.

Transportation spokesman Matt Bruning said its crews are using several plows to scrape debris off to the side of southbound Interstate 75, trying to get the highway reopened as soon as possible. “We’ll do a more thorough cleaning after we get lanes opened,” he told the Associated Press via text early Tuesday. He said tow trucks eventually will have to deal with damaged vehicles along the roadway, too. He said other crews are also clearing debris northwest of Dayton in Mercer and Darke counties. Trying to clear the debris in the middle of the night is a difficult task, complicated by darkness and downed power lines, Bruning said.

The National Weather Service confirmed Monday night that a “large and dangerous tornado” hit near Trotwood, Ohio, outside of Dayton.