The National Weather Service has confirmed
eight tornadoes in Pennsylvania and New Jersey during Thursday’s storm,
including the EF-3 storm in eastern Pennsylvania and an EF-2 tornado that
started in the Keystone State and then moved into the Garden State.
Authorities
in Bucks County said the EF-3 tornado that contained top winds of 140 when it
struck Bensalem, damaging an auto dealership and a mobile home park. Five
people had non-life-threatening injuries.
Forecasters said an EF-2 tornado was
confirmed near New Hope, Pennsylvania in the Washington Crossing Historic Park
area, and the storm then went across the Delaware River into Mercer County. EF-2 tornados can travel as fast as 115 mph and cause significant damage to structures.
News 12's Naomi Yane was in Titusville to see some of the
damage left behind – much of which was caused from uprooted trees.
Homeowners in homes surrounding the Washington Crossing
Historic Park are still in clean up mode. Sam Kerr explained what he saw as
the tornado made its way to his farm.
“I could see a swirl coming, leaves going around – so I
stopped and I was on the phone with my wife and next thing I know, it got real
black and my truck just started going back and forth and our corn stand was
gone,” he said.
Kerr says he was told that the total clean-up on his
property will take at least three weeks.
AP Wires Services were used in this report.