On the evening of June 5, 2010, a tornado touched down in northwestern Ohio along a seven mile stretch of Wood County southeast of Toledo. The impacted area included the townships of Moline, Lake, and Millbury. The tornado’s path primarily traversed an area composed of farm fields and light industrial complexes. However, residential neighborhoods were greatly impacted within the three townships and to date seven (7) fatalities have been confirmed.
The Lake Township City Administration Building which included the Lake Township Police Department was completely destroyed along with approximately fifty residential homes. Another fifty residential homes were severely damaged as well as up to ten commercial buildings.
On the morning of June 6, 2010, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) requested assistance from the U.S. EPA to provide response assistance in determining the extent of contamination within local storm sewers that drain to the Cedar Creek Watershed (Ayers Creek, Crane Creek and Henry Creek) which empty into the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.
An Ohio EPA OSC conducted interviews with local residents and estimated that approximately 650 gallons of diesel fuel, 150 gallons of waste oil, 25 gallons of hydraulic oil, 60 gallons of motor oil, and 450 gallons of liquid fertilizer were released from various sources into the storm drain. Sources included demolished vehicles, above ground storage tanks (ASTs), pole mounted transformers, drums and other miscellaneous containers.
