National Weather Service issues tornado warning for Portage county, students seek shelter

Students take shelter in the basement of Franklin Hall Thursday following a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. 

Students take shelter in the basement of Franklin Hall Thursday following a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. 

Kent State students were advised to seek shelter following a tornado warning for Portage County and several other Northeast Ohio counties issued by the National Weather Service Thursday.

The warning has been issued for Geauga, Summit, Stark and Portage counties until 5:45 p.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Hudson, 12 miles north of Akron, moving at 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

An additional severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near West Salem moving east at 35 mph. Other possible tornadoes were located near the Brunswick, Creston and Wooster areas.

People were advised to take shelter through a KSU advisory and an automated announcement broadcasted in buildings on-campus.

“Seek shelter immediately,” the broadcast stated. “Stay away from windows and doors and face the building’s exterior. Go now to a designated tornado shelter location immediately.”

The university resumed normal operations at 5:45 p.m. when the advisory ended.

Annie Zwisler is managing editor. Contact her at [email protected].

Zaria Johnson is editor-in-chief. Contact her at [email protected]