(Holton, IN) – Today is the 12th anniversary of the deadly tornado that struck Holton.
The EF-3 twister roared down Versailles Street at 3:58 pm on March 2, 2012, killing Ron Pickett, who was a well-known local musician, and Armando Hernandez.
A third Holton resident, Ted Tolbert, died in January 2013 from injuries suffered in the tornado.
Retired meteorologist Mark Fenbers was on the National Weather Service team that surveyed the damage in the western Ripley County community, and says he was surprised by both the short path of the tornado and the scope of the damage.
“For example, block walls and brick walls weren’t just knocked down…they’re completely disassembled,” said Fenbers. “Every brick is disassembled from every other brick. It’s very complete destruction.”
The National Weather Service says the storm system that day spawned 10 confirmed tornados and ultimately caused 11 deaths across the Tri-State.
