Ohio storm aftermath: Cleanup starts in Windham after EF-1 tornado hits Portage County

Severe weather made its way through Northeast Ohio on Wednesday evening, leaving some damage in its wake -- and one of the hardest-hit areas was the Windham community in Portage County.

A survey team with the National Weather Service confirmed on Thursday that an EF-1 tornado did touch down in Windham. Data from the NWS indicates that the tornado touched down between 6:45 p.m. and 6:51 p.m., beginning near the intersection of state Route 303 and Stanley Road. The storm's estimated peak winds were 110 miles per hour.

William Sears was with his girlfriend in their trailer when the storm hit. They went across the street to take cover in a neighbor's basement.

"We opened the front door to the house and I mean, it was just like looking out like Twister, just devastation everywhere," he told 3News' Lindsay Buckingham.

There has been a steady stream of teamwork for cleanup efforts since Wednesday night. Windham Fire Lt. Eric Mathews says his department has been working around the clock with local and state officials.

"Everybody's going from yard to yard, helping each other clean up. It's wonderful how this community comes together and it's just amazing," he said.

While no one was injured as a result of the tornado, the damage is absolutely devastating. One fire official told 3News that the radius of the damage area is around three miles. Damage is estimated into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

READ MORE: https://www.wkyc.com/article/weather/... --

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