Violent storms slam Northeast

Storm clouds loom over Times Square as Manhattan braced for heavy weather, July 26, 2012, in New York. The storm resulted in more than 20,000 customers without power in the Elmira area in upstate New York, where buildings were damaged, power lines and trees toppled, and hospitals placed on disaster status after a possible tornado hit the city.

A pedestrian smiles as she runs through a torrential downpour in Times Square, July 26, 2012, in New York.

Lighting flashes over New Jersey, as seen from across the Hudson River in Tribeca, in New York City, July 26, 2012.

A thunderstorm rolls into the Brooklyn borough of New York on July 26, 2012. An outbreak of severe thunderstorms including widespread damaging winds are sweeping over parts of New York with tornado warnings.

Are Kjeldsberg-Skauby, 12, of Normay, dances in a torrential downpour in Times Square, July 26, 2012, in New York.

Large evergreen trees knocked down by damaging winds during a thunderstorm lie in front of a home in Elmira, N.Y., July 26, 2012. Buildings were damaged, power lines and trees toppled, and hospitals placed on disaster status after a possible tornado hit the city of Elmira, Chemung County Office of Fire and Emergency Management Director Michael Smith told the Associated Press.

Residents work to clear tree branches off Wall Street in West Elmira, N.Y. after a severe thunderstorm swept through the area., July 26, 2012.

Pedestrians pass an umbrella vendor during heavy rains in Times Square, July 26, 2012, in New York.

A man inspects the aftermath of a tornado that struck Elmira N.Y., July 26, 2012.

A Chemung County Sheriff rushes past a felled tree after a possible tornado struck the area, July 26, 2012, in Elmira N.Y.

Jeremy Pack works to break-up a fallen tree with a chain saw in Elmira N.Y., after a tornado struck the area, July 26, 2012.

People work en masse to break-up felled trees and free cars underneath them in Elmira N.Y., after a severe storm in the area, July 26, 2012.

Members of the Elmira Fire Department return to the scene of an electric wire fire after a tornado struck in Elmira, N.Y., July 26, 2012.

A man uses his phone from a balcony after a possible tornado struck Emira N.Y., July 26, 2012.

A truck is seen misplaced amid broken trees along E. Church Street after a possible tornado struck the area, July 26, 2012, in Elmira N.Y.

Soaked pedestrians huddle under an umbrella heavy rains pass over Times Square, July 26, 2012, in New York. The storm resulted in more than 20,000 customers without power in the Elmira area.

Jim Twombly walks past a split tree on the Elmira College campus in Elmira, N.Y., July 26, 2012.

A row of broken power lines reveal the path that a tornado took after it struck Elmira N.Y., July 26, 2012.

Elmira N.Y., firefighters watch an electric wire fire closely after a possible tornado struck the area, July 26, 2012, in Elmira N.Y.

A man walks through the aftermath of a tornado that struck in Elmira, N.Y., July 26, 2012.

A family surveys the damage surrounding their property in Elmira N.Y., after a possible tornado struck the area, July 26, 2012.

A bystander inspects the damage left in the wake of a tornado that struck Elmira N.Y., July 26, 2012.

Storm clouds gather over Manhattan's east side — Stan Honda/AFP/GettyImages

Clouds gather over apartment buildings ahead of a thunderstorm on the east side of Manhattan, July 26, 2012, in New York.