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Video shows destruction of Starbucks as tornadoes touch down in Indiana

Posted at 6:13 PM, Aug 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-24 20:13:32-04

By Dave Alsup

INDIANA — Three tornadoes touched down Wednesday afternoon in Indiana, one damaging numerous structures in Kokomo, according to the National Weather Service and local officials.

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said nobody suffered life-threatening injuries, but the storm caused “pretty severe property damage” and downed many trees.

“I am in a residential neighborhood and there is a lot of roof damage, windows out, a roof completely taken off the home, power out,” he said. “It is pretty substantial. I have seen damage to about 50 homes so far. We are still looking at the damage.”

Power was knocked out across much of the town. Crews were checking on neighborhoods with damage.

Photos and video posted online showed a Starbucks in Kokomo flattened by the storm. Jamie Ball tweeted: “@Starbucks absolutely destroyed blocks from my hotel @CourtyardHotels in Kokomo, IN!”

Video posted on Facebook by WTHR-TV and shot by Brandon Mobley showed the Starbucks building coming down.

No customers or employees were injured, Starbucks said, according to CNN affiliate WRTV.

One tornado was reported west of Crawfordville, said meteorologist Dave Tucek. Another was east of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis remained under a tornado warning.

Republican vice presidential candidate and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence tweeted that he was leaving the campaign trail and returning home.

“So, we’re headed home and we’re going to be home so long as it takes for us to make sure these communities have the resources and the support they need to put themselves back together after these very violent storms,” he told reporters.

CNN’s Shacar Peled contributed to this report.

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