Eight people hospitalized following lightning strike in Ohio as officials declare mass casualty

Published: 03:37, 12 August 2026 | Updated: 03:39, 12 August 2026 A mass casualty incident was declared after nearly a dozen inmates were struck by lightning outside a correctional facility in Ohio, authorities said. Eight incarcerated individuals at the Grafton Reintegration Center were hospitalized following the strike on Tuesday, according to WKYC. Officials said the inmates were leaving one building and heading to another after a meal when they were struck. All were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries although some of the patients were described as being critically hurt. Ambulances from Lorain, Medina and Cuyahoga counties were dispatched to the scene shortly before 6pm, according to The Chronicle.  University Hospitals in Elyria and Westlake were also alerted to expect patients. 'The call that we originally got was five patients apparently struck by lightning. That was how it came in to us,' LifeCare Ambulance COO Kim Mason told the outlet. 'That came in at about 5.30pm. What I can say is since then we have transported multiple patients from the facility, and a few of them were critical. I don't have anything else on their condition at this time.' A lightning strike hit eight incarcerated individuals at the Grafton Reintegration Center in Ohio on Tuesday The inmates were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries (Stock Image)  The National Weather Service had issued a flood watch at 11am on the day of the incident (Grafton Reintegration Center pictured) It came as Ohio was battered by powerful storms that flooded parts of the state with several feet of water killing at least one person. The victim suffered a medical emergency in Roseville on Tuesday, but first responders were unable to reach them due to the raging waters. Roseville, a small community of roughly 1,500 people, was completely surrounded by floodwaters, with only one usable road leading out of the village, according to 13ABC. The National Guard's High Water Rescue Unit is expected to deploy to Roseville and Crooksville, communities located about 50 miles east of Columbus. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an emergency declaration for Perry and Muskingum counties on Monday and confirmed that one person had died. A flood watch issued by the National Weather Service took effect at 11am Tuesday and was expected to remain in place until 8am Wednesday for the Grafton area.  The National Weather Service [NWS] advises seeking shelter immediately after hearing thunder and remaining there for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an emergency declaration for Perry and Muskingum counties on Monday and confirmed that one person had died amid flash flooding and storm in the state Parts of Ohio were flooded with several feet of water. The one victim who had died had lived in Roseville Even while indoors, officials warn people to stay away from corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that could put them in direct contact with electricity. If caught outside during a storm, move to lower ground and avoid sheltering under an isolated tree, according to the NWS. Officials also advise getting out of any bodies of water and staying away from objects that conduct electricity. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the Lorain County Sheriff's Office, the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency and the Lorain Fire Department for comment.