SHELBY — A severe weather event wreaked havoc in Shelby on Sunday afternoon, causing significant damage to multiple houses, businesses and closing a major road through the city, according to authorities.
A section of Ohio 39 closed shortly after 5 p.m. from the corporate limits to Mickey Road, the Shelby police stated. The cause was debris in the roadway.
“We are working on getting barricades up,” Shelby Police chief Lance Combs said. “If you could just push out that 39 is closed (in that section) that would be great.”
Rocket Chevrolet (233 Mansfield Ave.), Advance Auto Parts (228 Mansfield Ave.) and O’Reilly Auto Parts (222 Mansfield Ave.) have sustained heavy damage, according to Shelby Police. Authorities did not allow the public to get close to the scene of these businesses at the time of publication.
An Advance Auto Parts employee told Richland Source the front of their store “was ripped off.”
In a Facebook post on Sunday night, the Shelby Police noted that power is out all across the city.
According to the National Weather Service, a tornado was confirmed at 4:59 p.m. near Savannah, 10 miles northwest of Ashland. It was reported moving northeast at 50 mph.
A tornado watch remains in effect for all of north central Ohio until 9 p.m.
Also, the Ohio Department of Transportation has released a list of roads closed after the storm.
There are power lines and trees down on the roadways. Crews are working to clear up the debris as quickly as they can. Motorists are advised to avoid the area. There is no time estimate available to when the roads will reopen.
SR 39, between US 30 and the City of Shelby.
SR 61, between Crestline and the City of Shelby.
SR 96, between SR 13 and the City of Shelby.
SR 314, between 4th St. and the City of Shelby.
Shelby Municipal Court has also announced it is closed on Monday, April 15. All cases are moved to Wednesday April 17.
