Tornado slams Maryland's Eastern Shore
STEVENSVILLE, Md. -- Maryland officials will work into the night to help clean up communities on the Eastern Shore that were hit by a tornado.
The National Weather Service says the tornado touched down 1:30 a.m. Monday near Stevensville in Queen Anne's County. Meteorologists say the tornado's wind speeds reached 125 miles per hour.
The overnight weather event downed trees, damaged homes and knocked out power for thousands. A hospital official says one injured man has been released.
CBS affiliate WBOC-TV reports that the local power utility sustained damage to its Stevensville Substation, including two major electric lines that feed the substation. In addition, five large steel poles and several local electric distribution poles were knocked down due to the extreme winds.
Considering the extent of the damage, some residents are astounded that there weren't any serious injuries or deaths, CBS Baltimore reports.
The station writes that one house looks OK at first, but at closer inspection, it was moved between five and 15 feet off of its foundation.
WBOC-TV reports that the Red Cross said two of its emergency response vehicles are on location and are providing assistance to communities that they are able to access.
A tornado warning was issued for the area and Meteorologist Mitchell Gaines says there were reports of roof damage and boats into yards. Heavy rain was reported in the region, including nearly 7 ½ inches in New Castle County, Delaware.
High winds closed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge for more than an hour, but engineers didn't find damage.
Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, who went to the scene Monday morning to survey the storm damage, said he and Gov. Larry Hogan "stand ready to offer state assistance," according to WBOC-TV.
CBS Baltimore spoke with a man, Mark French, whose home was completely destroyed. The man says the storm sounded "like a freight train coming through."
"My house is destroyed, they're going to probably take bulldozers and knock my house down," French told the station.
French said neighbors have offered to host him, "but nobody has power," he told CBS Baltimore.
Anyone who wants to help is also encouraged to donate to the Red Cross Greater Chesapeake.
