(DEFIANCE) - The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in southern Defiance County Tuesday night, causing damage southeast of Hicksville.
The tornado was embedded within a larger area of damaging straight-line winds and touched down as part of the March 31 thunderstorm system that moved through northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio.
Survey crews say the tornado reached peak winds of 95 miles per hour and stayed on the ground for 2.7 miles.
The storm first caused tree damage in a wooded area before destroying a large pole barn on Clemmer Road.
It then crossed open fields and tore much of the roof off a newly built single-family home.
Additional damage across southern Defiance County was blamed on straight-line winds between 60 and 80 miles per hour, including blown-over barns, damaged power lines and flooding that forced some road closures.
Residents in the area also reported scattered power outages Wednesday as utility crews worked to restore service.
Despite the damage, neighbors described a strong community response, with residents checking on each other and a local church opening its doors to help those affected.