Storms rip through Hope Indiana, "I thought we were gonna die"

"The log yards roof is on my car! Their sprinkler system too, tree on neighbors car, house our house. I thought we were going to die!" - Aimee

It started about 9:30pm Wednesday, thunder, then downpour hit on the North end of Columbus.

While it was a relaxing sound for some others were in fear because their town was being destroyed. A tornado is being reported to have hit Hope but I am thinking it was just a powerful storm, trees have toppled over everywhere, power lines down, in the small town bringing the town to a standstill.

Mutual Aide Fire Department and emergency crews were dispatched sometime around 10:05pm to assess the situation. Power outages, from the downed lines black the entire town, but power was restored about 12:15 or so this AM.

"Hope got hit bad by the storm tonight. Power lines are down, 9 is shut down and most of the streets are shut down, there is a gas leak and they are evacuating, there is a tree on the play ground and on the shelter house, the bleachers being the school are in the corn field but no report of injuries."

One resident said "Trees are laying everywhere its hard to get through streets but on the plus side nobody got hurt that i am aware of and we have power now!"

Another said "trampolines are gone on Meadow pl we're I live there is a gazebo at the end of the street trees down it."

Another family said " We were sitting in our family room which is all windows on both sides of the room and one moment the wind and debris were flying east and the next they were flying west."

"The street was blocked on Walnut by two trees down. Half the roof of my porch blew off... and all the neighbors underpinning is blown off... What a mess!"

"My grandmas tree uprooted and destroyed her driveway on south street. Its a mess."

"There are trees down ALL over Hope. I never seen anything like it before."

"We saw 2 power lines completely down w/trees, a guys car smashed by a tree, one with all the windows busted out.. not to mention all the trees just everywhere."

Timeline- as people reported...

9:30 - Storms Started

10:05 - Dispatch calls for help from all over - Hope fire, Clifford fire, Hartsville fire, Columbus township fire, and Burney fire

10:30 - Tornado believed to hit Locas St - but we're told straight lined winds hit...

11pm - School is open for shelter. Go in middle school doors. Have generators running. Highway 9 Closed

11:23 - The town south side of hope from about Washington street to South street in hope is a mess.  Lines/trees/ and mass debris everywhere. And we found the table top, it's in the back seat of the neighbors jeep.

11:39 - Highway 9 opened

11:40 - Gas leak reported on Union street per car 10 who is in command.

12am - Power to parts of Hope restored

12:20 - Gas leaks being reported, 2 gas leaks on Locust.

12:50  - all units except 2 have been relieved of their duties in hope. 2 other units r finishing up on Depot street in hope. then they will be finished

1:19 - West side of town has power...East side still with no power