Situation Desk

Tornado tears through Bloomington’s west side, damaging homes and businesses

A confirmed tornado struck Bloomington’s west side Thursday evening, damaging homes, businesses and knocking out power to hundreds. Hard-hit areas included Fieldstone and West Third Street. Residents sheltered in bathrooms. Neighbors worked into the night securing damaged properties.

**Left:** The red square marks the general vicinity of the Fieldstone neighborhood, with the placemark indicating the Monroe County Humane Association. Map by the B Square. [link to dynamic map] **Right:** Damage to a house in the Fieldstone subdivision. (Kathryn Coers Rossman, Feb. 19, 2026)

Severe thunderstorms moved through Bloomington and Monroe County on Thursday (Feb. 19, 2026 ) around 7 p.m., bringing a confirmed tornado and widespread damage to the city’s west side.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a tornado warning for Monroe County early in the evening, describing the storm as a “particularly dangerous situation” as strong rotation moved through the area. Tornado sirens sounded across Bloomington as the storm approached. During the warning period, the NWS confirmed a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado on the ground moving east at 40–45 mph.

Hundreds of homes lost power due to downed lines as the storm swept through Bloomington. Officials reported significant damage concentrated on the city’s west side, including West Third Street and surrounding corridors, the Monroe County Airport area, the Fieldstone subdivision, Highland Village, and the Stonechase neighborhood.

Bloomington police issued a statement around 9 p.m. asking asking residents to stay home, and especially to stay away from the west side of the city where power lines and trees were down and first responders were trying to get into the area.

Fifth Third Bank on West Third Street sustained heavy roof damage, and nearby auto dealerships—including the Kia dealership—were impacted by flying debris. Public safety officials also identified Park Square Drive, Curry Pike, Liberty Drive, and other connecting westside roads as heavily damaged and hazardous. The Monroe County Humane Association was damaged in the storm. All animals are safe, but the shelter needs immediate donations.

Neighbors quickly came together to help each other, checking on elderly residents and helping secure damaged homes. “Extreme weather always brings out kindness from friends and neighbors,” said Devin Owens of the Bloomington Fire Department. “People come together in these moments.”

Emergency responders deployed drones to assess the extent of the damage.

In the debris-strewn neighborhood, roofing nails littered the ground, making it hard to walk without puncturing a shoe. On Tensleep Road, resident Lauren Buchanan called out, “Does anyone know who owns the fridge in my yard?”

Derek Parkes arrived to retrieve his sister’s tuxedo cat, Javy, after her home sustained significant damage. On Fieldstone Boulevard, Jeff Tavares lost the roof of his rental home while sheltering in an interior bathroom with his fiancée. Elizabeth Moore of Bedrock Road also took cover in an interior bathroom with her two dogs. She said her doodles “began acting weird about fifteen minutes before the storm” around the same time she felt a noticeable pressure drop in her ears.

Ryan Kluck of Tensleep Road lost half a tree during a previous tornado in May 2025 and saw the remaining half fall during Thursday night’s storm. The basketball goal in his driveway snapped in two. Friends helped cover his exposed roof with a tarp.

Damage throughout the area included torn roofs, broken fences, and ripped siding. Vehicles were scratched or struck by debris and hail. Air-conditioning units were knocked off their foundations. Sheds, lawn furniture, trash cans, mailboxes and trampolines were scattered or missing.

Contractors arrived quickly, some offering assistance at no cost. CenterPoint Energy crews were working in the neighborhood by 9 p.m. The sound of chainsaws and hammers continued late into the evening.

Streets hardest hit in the Fieldstone neighborhood included Bobcat Bend, Bedrock Road, Tensleep Road and Fieldstone Boulevard. Bobcat Bend was a surreal landscape, with shredded insulation blanketing the pavement—“like snow” as residents put it.

With more rain in the forecast, many homeowners worked into the night to secure tarps and reinforce damaged roofs.

Indiana averages around 20–50 tornadoes per year. Tornadoes in February are rare but not unheard of. Strong southerly winds can pull warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico into the Midwest. According to official records from the National Weather Service, Monroe County has had 20 tornadoes reported between 1950 and 2024. The earliest one of the 20 was on March 31, in 2024. Most touchdowns came in April, May, and June.

Those who want to help can donate to the United Way of South Central Indiana’s Disaster Relief Fund, which was set up after last year’s May 16 tornado that cut across the county just south of Bloomington.