Severe weather destroyed houses, knocked out electricity, and triggered tornado warnings in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia on Thursday evening.
According to the National Weather Service, there were reports of injuries from a tornado in Jefferson County, Ohio, just across the state line approximately 45 miles west of Pittsburgh.
Although a 911 operator claimed he was not aware of any injuries at the time, reports were still pouring in.
"We've had several reports of damage, including downed trees and electrical lines," the dispatcher told weather.com shortly after the storm passed.
Damage Reports
WTOV-TV posted a partially collapsed home in the Jefferson County hamlet of Winterville, missing its roof.
At around 6 p.m., the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, issued a particularly hazardous situation (PDS) warning due to a tornado in Trenton. According to the NWS, a PDS is generally observed in rare instances where long-lived, powerful tornadoes are probable. There were no immediate reports of damage, according to police. A vehicle dealership in Trevose, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia, sustained significant damage.
When a tornado warning was issued at 5:15 p.m. at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, passengers and staff were advised to take cover, stay away from windows, and relocate to a lower floor.
In Fredericksburg, Virginia, a video shared on social media shows tiny particles of debris falling in front of a driver's windscreen during rain and hail at the same time.
When a tornado warning was issued at 5:15 p.m. at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, passengers and staff were advised to take cover, stay away from windows, and relocate to a lower floor.
In Fredericksburg, Virginia, a video shared to social media shows tiny bits of debris falling in front of a driver's windscreen during rain and hail at the same time.
Related Article: Storm Anxiety: How to Handle Extreme Weather Phobias During Hurricane Season
Power Outage
According to poweroutage.us, roughly 20,000 homes and businesses in Stafford County, Virginia, were without power as of 6:45 p.m. There was also severe weather in the region.
Stormy Weather
The storms were part of the same system that generated strong winds and tornadoes in Wisconsin and Illinois and areas of southwest Michigan and northern Indiana, causing more than 130,000 power disruptions late Wednesday and early Thursday morning.
Ravaging Tornadoes
Every year, tornadoes wreak havoc on communities around the country, bringing enormous winds and damage in their wake.
The tornado season of 2020 took the lives of 76 people while injuring hundreds more. At the time of the storm, 51% of the casualties were living in a mobile home or trailer park. The damage inflicted by these storms was in the billions of dollars.
There is no specific way to ensure safety during a tornado, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Even the threat of a tornado should be recognized. Although the most powerful tornadoes may demolish and destroy nearly any structure and the people within, extreme EF5 tornadoes (those with wind speeds of 200 mph or more) are uncommon.
Tornadoes, in general, are significantly weaker. If you take the proper measures, you can survive a tornado. Here are three crucial safety recommendations for you and your family.
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