Photo by Christopher Dacanay A shed along county Road 55 in Saline Township was flattened by Wednesday morning’s tornado.

Damage assessments and the clearing of debris are underway following a tornado event that tore up parts of Jefferson, Hancock and Beaver counties early Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service announced on the social media platform X that the tornado had maximum sustained winds of around 130 mph, earning it an EF2 classification. Confirmed by radar, the tornado was the first recorded tornado in Hancock County and the ninth in Jefferson County.

In northern Jefferson County, the tornado’s path of destruction was evidenced by fallen and dismembered trees alongside varying levels of structural damage. Primarily affected were areas around Brush Creek Township, the village of Irondale and Saline Township, according to John Parker, director of the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency.

Multiple agencies were working to address the “widespread debris field” left by the tornado, including mangled trees blocking roadways and, in some places, tangled with power lines, Parker said.

County roads 55 and 50 and Ohio 213 were closed for debris removal by the Jefferson County Highway Maintenance Department, Saline Township roads department and the Ohio Department of Transportation. As of midday, Ohio 213 and County Road 50 continued to be closed. County Road 55 was deemed passable, with caution urged for motorists.

American Electric Power and Carroll Electric worked to clear power lines displaced by the storm and address leaning poles. Residents of Irondale were without power as maintenance continued.

Rob Herrington, director of Jefferson County 911, said that calls regarding the tornado began coming in at 1:26 a.m., coming from around county Road 55 approaching Irondale. Calls kept coming during an “hour-long flurry of activity,” shifting toward areas around Ohio 213, going toward Ohio 7, Herrington said.

Emergency response began soon after the first calls, with a command post being established at the East Avenue and Creek Street intersection in Irondale around 2 p.m., according to Irondale Fire Department Assistant Chief Jason Smith.

Responding firefighters focused initially on clearing fallen trees from the roadway and opening access to callers, said Herrington, who also is co-director of the Jefferson County EMA. From there, responders could assess issues, checking for injuries or instances of entrapment. Despite some initial missing person calls, which were all resolved by 3 a.m., no injuries were reported that warranted medical attention.

With no medical emergencies, fire department response began to scale back, Herrington said. Responding were fire departments from Irondale, Stratton, Empire, Bergholz and Columbiana County. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Saline Township Police also assisted.

Edison Local School District ran on a two-hour delay, primarily due to transportation issues resulting from the storm, Herrington said.

The Irondale village building was set up to provide food and emergency shelter for affected individuals.

On scene to assist with affected individuals’ immediate and long-term needs and to perform damage assessment were representatives from the American Red Cross and Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

A meeting will be held at the Saline Township Complex at 164 County Road 50 A, Hammondsville, so affected individuals can fill out damage assessment forms to receive individual assistance, said Parker, who will be present at the meeting along with state EMA and other local officials.

Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons, who visited the scene, said it might be possible to use the county’s emergency funds for relief, and that those in need should contact the commissioners’ office if interested. He noted also that some businesses have reached out to offer water, clothing and supplies if necessary.

Herrington said the National Weather Service would be assessing the tornado’s path, looking to determine factors such as wind speed. Assessment will be aided by drone footage from the EMA.

Meanwhile, Hancock County Director of Emergency Management Jeremy Ober explained the primary area of damage in West Virginia was along Locust Hill Road, as well as Orchard Road and Smith Road in the community of Fairhaven, located just north of New Manchester along W.Va. 8.

Utility companies “showed up in force” to restore roads around Locust Hill closed for maintenance, Ober said. Some roads have been closed to one lane where power poles are being replaced or restrung.

Ober said cleanup and assessments are ongoing and will continue today to obtain an accurate account of how many homes and businesses were affected. The American Red Cross was on scene, and the West Virginia EMA and West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster both offered their assistance.

Chester Mayor Ed Wedgewood reported he and other city officials spent their day surveying damage in the area, which included downed power lines and trees, as well as damaged structures.

As for aiding those affected Wednesday, Ober said, “There are not a whole lot of unmet needs, but that could change. You don’t know what tomorrow’s going to look like once people have a clearer mind. They’re all dealing with a pretty traumatic event.”

Hancock County 911 indicated one person was injured as a result of the storm.

Hancock County Schools were closed Wednesday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, First Energy reported several hundred homes were still without power as a result of the storm damage. The majority of those reports were in the Fairhaven area, with some also located in Newell.

Northern Jefferson County residents themselves may have escaped unscathed, but damage to their property, in some areas, was extensive. Residents spoke of removed siding, lost garages and damaged barns.