The wind swept in around 3:30 a.m. Friday morning in Kosciusko and Elkhart Counties, causing thousands of power outages and many downed trees.

Up to 7,000 people in the two counties lost power Friday morning.

The National Weather Service says straight line winds are to blame.

The city of Elkhart received roughly 5 inches of rain but no flooding, said Jennifer Tobey, director of Elkhart County's Emergency Management Agency.

Other people reported lightning.

Bob Ott of Syracuse heard something that awoke him Friday morning.

"I heard lightning a couple times pretty loud, the kind of lightning that would be a quick crack," he said.

Outside his home, an oak tree split nearly in half.

Ott and many others found surprises outside their homes on Friday. Daniel Douglas of Syracuse said he knew something happened Thursday night after waking up to flashing numbers on his alarm clock.

"I looked out the kitchen window and said holy cow," said Douglas. A large chunk of tree branches lay in the yard outside his home.

“Lines are down, trees are down, roads were closed or blocked due to the trees down,” said Tobey of Elkhart County's Emergency Management Agency.

Tobey says it’s important to be prepared—notably, to prepare an emergency kit for your home.

If you see any storm damage, it’s important to report it to Elkhart County Emergency Management at 574-535-6590. Kosciusko County’s Emergency Management Office can be reached at 574-371-2602.