GROVE CITY >> Authorities have been rescuing people from their homes and cars who’ve been stranded by flooding in western and central Ohio in the aftermath of three tornadoes.
Firefighters in Fairfield County near Lancaster shuttled out at least a dozen people early Wednesday after neighborhoods were surrounded by several feet of water.
In the Springfield area, crews rescued a woman trapped in her car by high water and a man who came to help after she drove around a road closed sign.
The flooding follows strong winds that knocked down utility poles and wires and damaged buildings Tuesday.
The National Weather Service says investigators Wednesday concluded a tornado with estimated wind speeds of 100-110 mph caused damage in Grove City just south of Columbus. Two tornadoes hit between Dayton and Springfield.
The stormy weather across the state continued Wednesday. The highest recorded wind gusts in Northeast Ohio were in Fairport Harbor, which saw 65 mph winds, according to Zach Sefcovic, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Cleveland bureau.
A flood warning was issued for the Black River in Lorain County at 6 a.m. Wednesday due to rainfall of up to 2 inches in 48 hours.