EF1 Tornado Hits Near West Union; Home Destroyed, One Hospitalized

A confirmed EF1 tornado struck just west of West Union the evening of Jan. 15, ripping through rural sections of Adams County, destroying a house on Robinson Hallow Road and sending at least one person to the hospital. The damage underscores risks for residents who rely on county roads and local clinics when severe weather hits.

Radar showed the storm passing through the area around 7:50 p.m., moving northeast at about 55 miles per hour. Wind gusts across Adams County were estimated at 60 to 70 miles per hour during the storm. The National Weather Service said survey teams concluded the event met EF1 intensity, with damage indicators locating the tornado near the intersection of Brier Ridge Road and Robinson Hallow Road and lifting near Adams Lake State Park. EF1 tornadoes produce winds generally in the 86 to 110 miles per hour range.

The same storm system produced confirmed EF1 tornadoes in neighboring counties. The National Weather Service reported a tornado in Ohio County, Indiana, struck just south of Dillsboro before 6 p.m., with maximum winds of 100 miles per hour along a 3.4 mile path; no injuries were reported there. Officials also confirmed an EF1 touchdown in Mason County, Kentucky, that began near Minerva and lifted near the Ohio River. A final assessment of the regional damage was expected to be completed by Wednesday night.

Our crew in West Union surveyed flooding, fallen trees and damaged homes on Wednesday morning, and saw crews working to clear debris from county roads. Blocked routes and downed trees can complicate emergency response in a county where distances to advanced care are significant. At least one person was transported to a hospital Tuesday night; officials have not released that person’s condition.

Public health and community resilience are immediate concerns. Tornado damage in rural areas concentrates burden on local emergency medical services, volunteer fire departments and the few clinics that serve Adams County. Road closures and debris can delay ambulances and home-based caregivers, and losing a home creates needs for temporary shelter, heating, food and access to prescription medicines. Mental health impacts after weather disasters can outlast physical recovery, especially in tight-knit communities where neighbors and family members are often both first responders and primary caregivers.

Recovery in West Union will hinge on clearing routes for emergency vehicles, restoring utilities where needed, and ensuring people displaced by housing damage have equitable access to support. As survey teams finish their work, residents should check on elderly neighbors and those with medical needs, and local leaders will need to coordinate county, state and nonprofit resources to address both immediate care and longer-term rebuilding. The assessment results due later this week will shape what help comes next and how quickly West Union households can begin to recover.