Kosciusko County’s courthouse and justice building were closed this morning as a result of a power outage from the storm.

KOSCIUSKO — Power outages throughout Kosciusko County are affecting local residents, including much of downtown Warsaw.

The storm passed through Kosciusko County and surrounding areas shortly before 5 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes said Milford, including Beer Road and Lapoint Drive, were hard hit by the storm. Mentone was also apparently hit hard by the storm.

Dukes said he talked to a homeowner who said a small barn was lifted off the ground and damaged. The owner wondered if it had been caused by a tornado.

The weather service said they believe much of the damaged was caused by straight-line winds.

“Most of the winds were around 60 mph or so, based on damage reports we’ve received so far, but we believe there were some pockets of like 70 to 80 mph possible, and that would have definitely been able to do something like that,” said Megan Dodson, meteorologist in North Webster said.

As of 8:45 a.m., 13,454 Kosciusko County REMC members are without power. Nipsco’s website lists 5,937 Warsaw members without power.

Several stoplights in the downtown Warsaw area are currently inoperable and are acting as four-way intersections.

The following school corporations have also been affected by the power outage:

• Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw and Wawasee Community Schools are closed.
• Whitko Community Schools are currently operating under a two-hour delay.

Dukes said the courthouse would remain closed until at least 10 a.m.

“Right now, we’re just trying to play keep up,” Dukes said.

Further information will be posted as it becomes available.