Storm survey shows EF2 tornado in Peters Township had wind speeds near 120mph
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The National Weather Service has completed its preliminary damage survey for the tornado that touched down in Washington County and say that wind speeds in the storm reached nearly 120 miles per hour.
The National Weather Service had crews out doing a survey on Sunday morning and say that the EF2 tornado touched down near Bebout Road in Peters Township just after 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The tornado's path continued for approximately 15 minutes and nearly six miles, traveling through Peters Township, Finleyville, and Union Township with an estimated peak wind speed of 118 miles per hour.
Several homes and a church damaged as tornado moved through Washington County
One family who lives in Union Township spoke with KDKA and described how they were hanging onto a railing, unable to get inside in time as the storm moved through the area. The roof was ripped off their home with heavy damage left behind on the second floor.
At least 12 homes were damaged in total in the area.
In nearby Finleyville, Crossroads Ministries was heavily damaged by the tornado. About 100 people were inside the church when the steeple was blown off the building.
"Isn't it amazing? The bibles didn't even move, but the roof is gone," Pastor Ken Barner said on Monday.
Everyone in the church went to the basement as the storm blasted out windows, ripped the roof off their offices and toppled the steeple. Cars in the church parking lot were also damaged.
"This came out of nowhere," the pastor told KDKA-TV.
The National Weather Service said two people suffered minor injuries during the storm.
On Monday, KDKA-TV learned there are no tornado sirens for much of the area, including Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. In Washington County, North Franklin Township is getting ready to install a fourth early warning system.
The township's emergency management coordinator says the fourth alert system is being added at the new township building on Franklin Farms Road and should be up and running by the end of June. That siren would reach people near Washington Crown Center Mall and Wild Things Park.
The church congregation never had to put a weather plan into effect until this weekend.
"We're going to retool that, but we just went into action. It's a wind event and get to the basement," Barner said.
Crews are already putting the roof back on the church offices. Pastor Barner said someone was watching over the community during this storm. He also thanked the community for coming together in this cleanup effort.
"I'm thankful to God. We've got a team up here. My phone is ringing off the hook. Everything is blowing up around me because everyone wants to help," the pastor said.
As for the church's services, Barner said it won't be at this building this week. They are still looking at locations and plan to be online.
