Rare Winter Tornado Caused $1M Damage to Business

A rare winter tornado that swept through a southern Indiana community last week left a tool-and-die business with about $1 million in damage.

The tornado packing winds up to 85 mph tore off part of the roof on Clifty Engineering and Tool Co.’s two-story main office in Madison last Tuesday and heavily damaged a nearby storage facility. A gas line also ruptured as the storm moved through, showering nearby Clifty Falls State Park with insulation and other debris.

No injuries were reported and work resumed at the main shop the next day.

But company human resources director Charlie Grooms tells The Madison Courier the gas leak kept workers from entering the building and unable to protect sophisticated computer equipment from rains that fell into the building after the tornado.