Indiana Homeowner Disputes Weather Service Account of Storm

An eastern Indiana man who suffered storm damage earlier this month is challenging the National Weather Service’s ruling that straight-line winds caused the damage to his property.

Randy Hubbard tells The Star Press the June 8 storm blew out windows, tore the roof off and tossed 1,500-pound porch pillars from his log house northwest of Winchester.

Hubbard says an insurance adjuster and insurance engineer told him the damage was caused by a tornado. But the weather service blames straight-line winds.

Meteorologist Dave Tucek says the weather service reviewed pictures of the damage and downloaded radar data but found no evidence of rotation.

Whether straight-line winds or a tornado caused the damage doesn’t matter to Hubbard’s insurance company. It considers the house a total loss.