‘I couldn’t believe it;’ Reaction from residents at Kettering apartment from Sunday’s storms

KETTERING — Severe storms rolled through the Miami Valley late Sunday afternoon causing damage across the area, including at the Ketwood Apartment complex in Kettering.

A tornado warning was issued around 5:54 p.m. for Montgomery and Greene Counties before it was canceled around 6:12 p.m.

>>PHOTOS: Viewers share pictures of storms, damage during Sunday’s severe weather

Trees were down all over the apartment complex where residents feel lucky they can still get in and out of the building.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Kristin Howell told News Center 7′s Kayla McDermott. “Like, I could not believe it.”

Multiple trees have been uprooted and branches smashed into car windows as long-time residents at the Ketwood Apartments said these storms were intense.

“You could see the trees moving and it just gusting,” said Jimmy Stethem.

>>PHOTOS: Calm after the storms; Rainbows spotted across the region after Sunday’s severe weather

Lisa Kelsey tells McDermott she was at home at the time of the storm and had to take cover with her dog out of fear since the winds were so strong.

“This is actually the first time I’ve actually been really scared of a storm,” she said. “We stayed in the bathroom for 15 minutes. When I walked out, I saw the fence down.”

Kelsey says she has lived in Ohio her entire life and this storm was definitely one of the worst she has been through.

“My apartment actually shook for a while and I took this serious and it really did scare me,” she said.

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Kelsey’s daughter, Kristin Howell, lives a few doors down from her and agrees.

Howell compared Sunday’s storm to the Memorial Day 2019 storms.

“Yes, this (Sunday) was way worse for me,” she told McDermott.

Residents say intense storms like this is why they have been asking for the trees in front of their properties to be removed.

“If it would have come a different direction, it would have come up on my house,” said Stethem.

Residents say even though there is damage, they are just happy no one has reported injuries.

“Thank god for insurance, that’s not important right now,” said Howell.

“I’m just thankful no one got hurt and everyone’s okay,” Kelsey added.

McDermott spoke to a woman who is a volunteer spotter for the National Weather Service.

She wants them investigate if a tornado actually touched down at the apartment complex or came close to it due to the amount of damage and since many of the plants are blown in one direction.

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