Cape Cod tornado knocks out power
No injuries; thousands go without electricity
YARMOUTH, Mass. — High winds and one radar-confirmed tornado ripped off a hotel roof, downed trees that blocked roads and knocked out power to thousands on Cape Cod on Tuesday during the peak of tourist season.
A tornado struck Yarmouth just after noon, according to the National Weather Service, which along with the state Emergency Management Agency sent a survey team to the scene to assess the damage and the tornado’s strength.
A wind gust of 90 mph was reported in Barnstable, according to the weather service.
There were no reports of injuries. The Cape Sands Inn in Yarmouth was condemned by building inspectors after its roof was ripped off and deposited in the back of the building. Guests were being relocated to other hotels.
Jason Couse, on vacation with his family, said he first noticed the roof risingupanddown.
He told NBC Boston that the family “quickly ran to the bathtub and covered up and next thing I know, it started pouring in the house, pouring in the hotel.”
The manager came and brought them to the lobby.
The town of Harwich declared a state of emergency, and police urged people to stay off roads during the cleanup.
Electric utility Eversource reported about 50,000 state power outages, most on Cape Cod, with Chatham, Dennis and Harwich the hardest hit.
More than 90 percent of customers in Harwich and Chatham were without power at one point, the utility said.
The weather service had issued a tornado warning for the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard late Tuesday morning.