Tornado Rips Roof Off of Indiana Fire Department

Nov. 15, 2011
Paoli firefighters were wary of re-entering the structure following the damage done by the F1 tornado.

An F1 tornado tore the roof off of the building shared by the Paoli fire and police departments Monday night and left debris strewn across the town, according to The Times-Mail.

There were widespread power outages in the small town 40 miles northwest of Louisville, Ky., but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

"Fortunately we had nobody hurt. There are all kinds of rumors flying around of people hurt or missing. That's not true. Everybody is accounted for," Orange County Emergency Management Agency Director Rick Emerick told the newspaper.

Responders went door to door to check on residents during the night and most of the power was back on by Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service said the tornado brought winds of close to 95 mph and was on the ground for about two miles, stretching 100 yards wide.

Efforts were underway Tuesday to find new housing for police, while firefighters were wary of re-entering the structure.

Assistant Fire Chief Mark Jones told the Associated Press that his department was unable to work out of the building due to the damage.

"We're worried about it caving in," he said.

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