A bit of good news was reported in the wake of Saturday’s tornado hitting Lake Township.

Township Police Chief Mark Hummer said the number of confirmed deaths from the tornado has been lowered from seven to five.

At a press briefing Monday afternoon, the chief acknowledged the official number of confirmed deaths had been as high as seven, but after conferring with the coroners in Wood and Lucas counties he said the number has been lowered to five. He said some victims may have been counted twice in the confusion of the storm’s aftermath.

“After further investigation we are lowering the number of fatalities to five,” he said. “There may have been a double count. It’s still very sad.”

One person was apparently killed at the township administration building; another near SR 795 and Lemoyne Road, and three in the Village of Millbury, according to the chief, who said authorities were still investigating. There were at least 12 reported injuries requiring treatment at hospitals.

A preliminary assessment by the Ohio Emergency Management Association set the damage estimate at “approaching $100 million,” Chief Hummer said.

Lake Township Fire Chief Todd Walters said Monday search operations have ceased and the fire stations are being staffed 24-hours.

Fire station 2 on Ayers Road has been a hub of activity in the aftermath of the storm.

Round-the-clock accommodations for paramedics – who normally are housed in the township administration building -  were being set up in a conference room at the fire station and the police department was using it as an operations center.

The township trustees also set up temporary quarters in the station and convened a quick meeting Monday afternoon to approve a resolution to retain Cousino-Harris Disaster Kleenup, Perrysburg, for clearing the administration building of debris.

The resolution declares the township a disaster area.

The wing of the administration building which housed the police department and emergency dispatching center was destroyed but the wing that housed offices for the trustees, zoning department, fiscal officer, and quarters for paramedics suffered less damage.

Still, Ron Sims, a trustee, described that wing as “unstable and wet.” “The rain and sprinkler system drowned everything,” he said.

Township officials were pleased with the transition of the 9-1-1 emergency phone system, saying it rolled calls over to the dispatching system operated by the Northwood Police Department without any significant flaws.

Emergency calls will continue to be routed through Northwood’s system but officials hoped to have more police operations,  handled at the former Ohio Highway Patrol post on Lemoyne Road possibly as early as this weekend.

The township purchased the building after the Highway Patrol moved to a new post near the City of  Bowling Green.

Clarence Wilburn, a member of Millbury Village Council, said the village was organizing public information sessions at the Fireman’s Hall to host state and local agencies and give residents a chance to ask questions about available asistance.

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