Sellersburg EF-0 tornado sends fence through man’s bedroom wall

SELLERSBURG, In. (WAVE) - When an EF-0 tornado touched down in the Perry Crossing neighborhood of Sellersburg, no one was hurt, but one homeowner was left with an experience he will never forget.

The homeowner, Terry Matern, said he and his wife were home when the tornado hit and were alerted just minutes before.

“It was pretty traumatic,” Matern said. “I saw it forming in the neighbor’s yard, and we hit the basement real quick.”

Pretty soon, the tornado was right over them. They listened as the tornado wreaked havoc on their home above.

When they left the basement, their home was battered with holes and debris the storm left behind. A gaping hole was left in their bedroom, where a fence from their backyard was lifted into the air and sent through their exterior wall like a projectile.

A piece of wood was sent through their bathroom door as well.

“It’s pretty devastating,” Matern said. “It took most of the roof. Some trees. And obviously the side of the house there.”

Within minutes after the storm moved on, neighbors from surrounding homes came by to help. When WAVE News got there, they were already working on patching up the roof.

“We’re fortunate that nobody got hurt,” Matern said. “Neighbors have come by to help. We’re really thankful for that.”

Matern and his wife say they’re staying in their guest bedroom while repairs continue. Miraculously, Clark County Emergency Management says no one was hurt in Tuesday night’s storms.

After an inspection of the damage Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-0 tornado touched down there, and caused the damage to Matern’s home and neighborhood.

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