UPDATE @ 11:04 a.m.
Around 11 a.m., Ohio 741 was reopened in the area of Ryan and Pekin roads after multiple trees were downed.
The National Weather Service said in coordination with Warren County Emergency Management, it’s believed the damage in Warren County has been caused by straight line winds. Rotation has not been seen in that area.
"We will continue coordination with Warren County EMA to ensure they don't suspect tornadic damage. But current plans are to not survey the area," according to the NWS.
Damages through Warren County include roofs blown off two barns on Clarksville Road; a lightning strike sparked a fire on Township Line, forcing residents from their home; and thousands are without power.
No serious injuries were reported.
EARLIER REPORT
The severe storms that rolled through early Thursday morning resulted in significant damage in Warren County — even raising questions about a possible tornado.
Around 3:30 a.m., a tree fell on the house in the 8500 block of Red Lion Five Points Road in Clearcreek Twp., trapping two residents. Two people inside initially were unable get out because their exits were blocked by the fallen tree.
But they eventually got out of the house without injury.
Officials said they believe a tornado hit the area, although the National Weather Service has not said if they will survey the damage. The area was under a tornado warning for a period of time overnight.
Damage was reported across Warren County, with multiple reports of trees down.
Tornado alerts went out about 3:20 a.m. in Waynesville, sending residents into their basements, Waynesville Mayor David Stubbs said.
“I haven’t heard anything other than trees down and the power out,” Stubbs said this morning.
Ohio 48 was blocked, near Waynesville, while crews cleared the roads, Stubbs said.
“We don’t have any electricity,” he added.
Wires were down on Ohio 73 and Township Line Road, Stubbs said.
John and Sharon Smith, who live on Lincolnshire Lane in Springboro, said they have a few large sycamore trees down in the backyard of their home.
Sharon Smith said Springboro got hit hard.
High winds caused trees to snap off, she said, about 3 a.m. Thursday. Winds also blew over furniture on her deck.
“We got really lucky,” Smith said. “It was really bad here. But we have power.”
Lightning struck a home at 7186 Township Line Road, sparking a fire that left the home uninhabitable, according to fire officials.
Wayne Twp. Fire Chief Paul Scherer said his department was dispatched at 4:48 a.m. to the home, just north of Ohio 73. The fire badly damaged one room upstairs and left smoke damage throughout the home.
No one was injured, but Scherer said the residents were being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Scherer said this was the worst storm-related call, but counted 30 calls for downed wires or limbs in the township generally located between Caesar Creek Lake and Ohio 48 in Warren County.
Butler and Warren counties have had the most power outages in the area all Thursday morning, according to multiple outage maps.
Other reported damage early Thursday morning included:
- Trees and power lines are reportedly down in the area of East Lower Springboro Road and Township Line Road.
- There is reportedly a tree down on Ohio 741 on Red Lion Road.
- A tree is blocking most of the roadway on Remick Boulevard.
- In the 4000 block of East Lower Springboro Road, a pole and wires are down.
- A tree also is blocking the roadway with wires in the 4400 block of East Lower Springboro.
- In Franklin Twp., a large tree is down with debris "everywhere" on Millbrook, according to reports.
- Around 11 a.m., Ohio 741 was reopened in the area of Ryan and Pekin roads after multiple trees were downed
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