Columbus City Council and Residents Clean Up Storm Damage on South Side

The Columbus City Council assisted neighborhood leaders with cleanup efforts as the National Weather Service worked to determine whether a tornado caused the destruction.

Severe Damage Along Parsons Avenue and Surrounding Neighborhoods

At the Columbus Pawn Shop located off Parsons Avenue, bricks, broken glass, and fallen trees covered the sidewalk, while the business’s awning was left hanging by just a few bolts, according to WSYX. Carl McGinnis, a resident living about a block away, told WSYX that the destruction was total and unlike anything he had witnessed in his 60 years in Columbus.

Nearby, resident Nicole Hoy narrowly escaped injury when a tree branch ripped through her bedroom wall just seconds after she left the room. According to Hoy, a shed in her backyard was lifted off the ground, and severe storm damage was scattered across her property with no prior warning. On Washington Avenue, WSYX reported that trees were uprooted, siding and shingles were stripped from homes, and one house appeared to have been pushed off its foundation and was partially collapsing.

Emergency Response and Community Recovery Efforts

At the Hope for Tomorrow counseling center near Reeb Avenue and Lockbourne Road, staff were forced to move children and adults to safety as conditions worsened, according to Bob Kendricks via WSYX. Powerful winds also tore apart pieces of a nearby restaurant roof while flipping over adjacent food trucks.

Crews from AEP Ohio and the Columbus Police Department responded to the affected areas, shutting down roads and placing caution tape around damaged buildings. Alberto Lopez, a local helper assisting a client with a roof leak, noted the heavy concentration of fallen trees and structural damage across the neighborhood. Meanwhile, the American Red Cross established an emergency shelter at the Scioto Southland Community Center to provide displaced families with hot meals and overnight lodging.

Ongoing Weather Threats and Active Watches

The cleanup operations coincide with continued threats of severe weather across the region. According to WSYX, a severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect until 8 p.m. Forecasters indicated that showers and thunderstorms could return with a high near 85 degrees before a stalled boundary moves out of the area later in the week.