Retrospect: Storm left two injured

Twenty-five years ago this week, a severe storm blew through Jay County leaving two injured and more than 1,000 without power.

Nathan and Marci McIntire were injured on Oct. 8, 1992, when strong winds overturned their mobile home located near the intersection of Como Road and county road 900 South. Nathan suffered a broken nose and collar bone as well as bruises, and Marci also suffered bruises.

“The windows started flapping … the sky looked orange,” Marci told CR reporter Dan Zinkand. “I said, “Nate, are you scared?’ And he said, ‘Yeah’”

The mobile home first began to move and then “all of a sudden, it was ‘bam’” she added.

After it turned over, the McIntires were able to get out of the mobile home. They went to a neighbor’s home to call for help and were then transported to Jay County Hospital for treatment.

Other damage included a tree limb that went through the home of Karen and Don Johnson in Boundary City and falling tree limbs that knocked out power in Portland and several other areas of the county. Most electricity had been restored by 7 a.m. the next day.

Lightning also caused a variety of problems, including triggering the fire alarm at The Red Wing warehouse on county road 200 West and Orchard Apartments in Portland.