Downed trees, power lines highlight Helene damage in Putnam County

Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 8:04 PM

By Paul Gable

Putnam County Sheriff Jarrod Baugh saw the weather impact his department. One of his deputies was working an accident on U.S. 40 when a tree fell on the deputy's vehicle, smashing it.

It was a wet, windy and wild 24 hours in Putnam County as the remnants of Hurricane Helene made its way through West Central Indiana, but when the dust settled, the county was unscathed for the most part, according to officials.

"So far, we are aware of two homes that have sustained damage from fallen trees in the Greencastle area. There are lots of roadway debris reported throughout the county that has been removed. We also had downed power lines, but I believe all of those have been repaired at this time," Putnam County Emergency Management Director David Costin told The Putnam County Post Saturday morning.

Putnam County Sheriff Jarrod Baugh saw the weather impact his department. One of his deputies was working an accident on U.S. 40 when a tree fell on the deputy's vehicle, smashing it.

"Vehicles can easily be replaced. I'll take changing out equipment and undergarments any day over driving to a deputy's house to explain the other possibility," Baugh said.

Baugh said as of Saturday the county still had areas without power but roads were open and moving forward with cleanup.

"There are no major injuries to report," Baugh said.

Cloverdale was also spared the brunt of the weather, according to town council president Brandon Tancak.

"We are actually in good shape. Obviously, some branches and limbs down but nothing major. Power was not an issue inside the town limits," Tancak said.