Extensive damage reported as remnants of Hurricane Helene moves through Miami Valley

MIAMI VALLEY — Damage has been reported across the Miami Valley after strong winds and heavy rain moved through the area.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, several counties in the region were under a High Wind Warning and a Wind Advisory on Friday.

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One family said they were inside their Washington Township home when a tree came crashing into it.

“Hey, we’re happy we’re all walking around, so that’s the most important thing,” Washington Township resident Jay Gabatz said.

Gabatz said he was upstairs working when he heard something unfamiliar.

“I heard a loud crash and then heard my father yelling, saw that a giant tree had come on the roof,” Gabatz said.

Now his living room has a hole in the ceiling and water leaking in.

“Worried about water damage? Going to try to get someone out here to cut the tree up and at least put a roofing tarp until they can actually repair the damage,” Gabatz said.

The family was displaced due to the damage, but Gabatz said he would come back over the weekend to check up on things.

In Kettering, Dayton Dental employees said a tree fell and damaged five cars.

Landscapers were called in to cut it up.

Despite the widespread damage, thousands are without power throughout the region.

A spokesperson with AES Ohio said it could take crews hours, even days to restore the power.

“Storm kit, you have everything you need. In the event of an outage, that’s for flashlights. You know, it’s getting a little cooler, so make sure you have those blankets. Make sure you have, you know, some water and non-perishable food items,” AES Ohio spokesperson Mary Ann Kabel said.

About 30 minutes north of Kettering is a place familiar to many.

The storm knocked down and broke the sign at Dixie Twin drive-in.

The manager told News Center 7 that they were planning to renovate the sign before next season, but now it will be completely replaced.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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