The Knox County Emergency Management Agency and the National
Weather Service coordinated efforts in determining that damage sustained in Knox County last
week was caused by straight-line winds.
Officials have estimated winds reached 80 mph at
times during the severe storms that passed through the area Wednesday April 8, 2020. That
type of wind speed is commonly associated with a Category 1 hurricane. Much of the damage
was located within a four-mile path traveling from the northwest to the southeast for nearly 11
miles from Vincennes towards Monroe City.
Knox County EMA officials conducted two days of damage assessment surveys, including the
gathering of information and the recording of public safety drone video footage. The data
collected was then sent to the National Weather Service Office in Indianapolis for review and
determination. Both agencies have reached the conclusion that severe straight-line winds are
responsible for the damage sustained.
Power was restored to more that 19,000 residents on Sunday.
There were no injuries reported from the storm.
Property owners who sustained damage, especially those without insurance coverage, are
encouraged to report their damage online at:
https://in211.communityos.org/idhs-damage-assessment
This will help the county in an effort to qualify for a federal disaster declaration and funding
assistance.