Tornadoes touch down in Pennsylvania
The Associated Press
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — National Weather Service officials confirmed Thursday that two tornadoes touched down late Wednesday in northeast Pennsylvania, causing severe damage to a major commercial districtand destroying homes.
The National Weather Service in Binghamton, N.Y., sent teams to two counties in Pennsylvania to determine if tornadoes were part of a severe weather system that also destroyed box stores, smashed cars and left at least six people injured.
Photos and videos of the aftermath show a shopping center in Wilkes-Barre, about 110 miles north of Philadelphia, with roofs torn off, cars overturned and storefronts shattered. Similar photos surfaced Thursday morning from Granville, Franklin and Leroy townships, about 90 miles further north of Wilkes-Barre, showing collapsed structures and shatteredwindows.
The investigators’ report from Wilkes-Barre said the tornado damage was consistent with an EF2-strength tornado, meaning the average wind speed reached between 111 and 135 mph. Tornadoes there were reports of six are categorized from storm-related injuries that EF0, which are weaker with were not life threatening wind speeds between 65 and and did not require anyone 85 mph, to EF5, which are to be admitted to a hospital. considered violent with Gov. Tom Wolf toured the wind speeds of more than damage with reporters and 200mph. first responders and briefly
The report said winds spoke about how fast storms likely hit 130 mph as the tornado like the one Wednesday traveled about half a night move. He said he was mile after first touching working with county and down near the Wyoming state officials to determine if Valley Mall. Investigators the storm would qualify for describing the damage said federal disaster aid. “structures were sheared Joy Frie told The off near their foundation.” (Wilkes-Barre) Citizens’
The preliminary report Voice that staff and patrons from Franklin Township in huddled in the kitchen of Bradford County said damage the bar where she works there was also consistent until they could escape to with an EF2 tornado. another business. More details about the “The doors were busting path, the width and damage open. Almost everyone’s were expected to be released cars in the parking lot were later. destroyed,” the 18-year-old
In Wilkes-Barre, city and said. county officials had closed In Bradford County, roads around the damaged damage was reported in shopping centers because three neighboring townships, of downed power lines and but emergency personnel damage to a propane cylinder said there were no that was still leaking as reports of injuries. of midmorning Thursday. Jeff Scarboro, the director
Luzerne County Emergency of public safety and Managementemergency management Agency volunteer Garrett for the county, said there Hittle said crews were were about 10 homes with working to stabilize the varying reports of damage, propane cylinder Thursday some of which appeared to afternoon. Mr. Hittle said be destroyed.