Lightning struck an Ohio prison on August 11, injuring 16 inmates who were outdoors between buildings after an evening meal. One inmate was airlifted to a hospital, and seven remain hospitalized as severe storms continue battering the US Midwest, killing at least three people and leaving over 625,000 customers without power in Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois.
Inmate Injuries and Hospitalizations
According to the BBC, one inmate required airlifting to a hospital. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction confirmed in an August 12 social media update that seven inmates remain hospitalized, including one in serious condition. Nine others have since been discharged back to the correctional institution. No staff members were injured in the incident. The nature of the airlifted inmate's injuries has not been publicly disclosed.
Severe Weather Across the Region
The lightning strike was part of a broader weather emergency gripping the Midwest. The National Weather Service issued flash flooding warnings across Ohio and Indiana and confirmed that three tornadoes touched down in Chicago's south suburbs on August 11. Footage from across the region shows homes with damaged roofs and trees downed by the force of the storms.
At least three deaths have been confirmed. A four-year-old boy in Indiana died after a tree struck his family's mobile home. An Indiana woman was killed in a home explosion during winds exceeding 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, though police captain Rob Maynard said investigators cannot yet draw final conclusions on the precise cause, even as they believe the storm played a role. Maynard also noted that several gas leaks occurred as falling trees disrupted underground infrastructure.
In Ohio, a separate individual died when first responders could not reach them in time during a flooding emergency. Governor Mike DeWine warned residents on August 11 to stay alert and exercise caution. "This is a very dangerous weather situation," he said, urging people to keep an eye on the news and use "common sense."
Power Cuts and Airport Disruptions
The storms have knocked out electricity for hundreds of thousands of people. More than 295,000 customers in Indiana, over 185,000 in Ohio, and around 145,000 in Illinois were without power as of August 11, according to a regional power tracking service.
The National Weather Service also warned of severe wind gusts strong enough to bring down trees, branches and power lines, urging residents to prepare for further flooding. "Now is the time to plan for severe weather and flooding!" the NWS said.
Air travel was also disrupted, with the Federal Aviation Administration issuing ground stops at several major airports including Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports due to thunderstorms, with delays continuing into Wednesday afternoon.
