Clean Up Underway In Edgewater After EF-1 Tornado Touched Down
EGDEWATER, Md. (WJZ) -- Clean up efforts are underway after an EF-1 tornado touched down in Edgewater on Thursday night.
The National Weather Service confirmed on Friday that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Edgewater on Thursday night, as severe weather moved through much of Maryland.
According to the National Weather Service, the twister brought winds of up to 90 mph and had a maximum path width of 100 yards.
The tornado, which had a path length of 6.1 miles, lasted from 5:57 p.m. to 6:01 p.m.
The twister tore through one Edgewater neighborhood and damaged dozens of homes. Fences were ripped apart, massive trees were downed and debris was scattered in yards.
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Tree service and debris removal crews were out early Friday morning, removing the downed trees in yards and homes.
"It was just a regular evening where we were sitting down to have dinner," said resident Liz McCleskey. "The window smashed out, and it was either from a tree or it was from the pressure from the tornado."
"It was kind of terrifying," McCleskey added. "You don't expect that around here, you know?"
McCleskey, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years, recalled the frightening moments.
"When we started to hear all of the [tree] limbs hitting, and then when the window busted out, Kevin and I ran," she said. "We were running to go into the closet, or we were going to go under the table."
Crews spent the morning with special tree removal equipment and a crane to remove one downed tree in the backyard of a home.
Roofing companies worked with residents since the storm passed, assisting with damage control.
"Last night we were tarping up," said one contractor. "We were helping police officers and other officials clear out roads. Got the chain saws out and everything."
The neighborhood also went several hours overnight into the early morning without power due to downed power lines.
Now, residents are left to pick up the pieces and recover.
Anne Arundel County Office Of Emergency Management is collecting data on damage around the county.
Resident can fill out the form here.
"These are all 1950's trees that are all unfortunately going to have to go," McCleskey said. "So kind of heartbreaking. But it will be okay."
Thankfully, there were no reports of any fatalities or injuries.
