Hundreds of thousands of customers across the Midwest were left without electricity after severe storms moved through several states on Tuesday. Reuters reported that outages affected parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky as crews began assessing damage from flooding, fallen trees and other storm-related hazards.
At least two deaths were confirmed. In Indiana, the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office said a 4-year-old child was killed when a tree fell onto a home in Geneva Township. In Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine said another person died in Roseville after flooding prevented emergency crews from reaching the individual.
Authorities in Portage, Indiana, were also investigating a deadly house explosion and fire that happened after the storms passed through the area. The cause had not been determined.
Officials continued to warn about dangerous flooding conditions even after the strongest storms moved away. Recovery efforts remained focused on restoring power, clearing debris and monitoring areas where rising water could create additional problems.