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[video]http://www.wbaltv.com/r/25822434/detail.html[/video]
[video]http://www.wbaltv.com/video/25830467/detail.html[/video]
BALTIMORE -- National Weather Service officials confirmed Thursday evening that a tornado did touch down in parts of Baltimore and Baltimore County on Wednesday morning, leaving behind a swath of damage.
The tornado ripped off roofs, uprooted trees and left thousands of people without power.
The National Weather Service said the tornado touched down in the Hamilton neighborhood of Baltimore City and in Parkville, Baltimore County, at 1:35 a.m. with a maximum wind speed of 100 mph.
The NWS said the tornado was on the ground for less than a minute, causing damage in two stretches -- one that included the Dutch Village apartment complex where three units had their roofs blown off. The second began a half mile north and was centered on the Perring Parkway Shopping Center.
The weather service said tornado evidence includes video from surveillance cameras which showed debris blowing in different directions.
City housing officials said 16 buildings housing 54 units were condemned, and more than 300 more units were damaged. Nearly 250 people had to register at the city's intake center, the Mt. Pleasant Ice Rink.
Baltimore County officials said 92 homes were damaged. Building inspectors spent the day Wednesday looking for structural damage and electrical issues.
City and county officials said, however, that it could have been much worse.
"We're very blessed today that we're not talking about multiple lives being lost because of the damage," said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. "The devastation we've seen -- you expect to see that somewhere in the Midwest, not here in Baltimore."
Anthony Burd, of Parkville, told 11 News Thursday that his home security cameras captured what he believed was a funnel cloud whipping around northeast Baltimore.
Baltimore Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright said a few injuries were reported at Dutch Village, but said no fatalities had been reported. Major damage was also reported at nearby Mt. Pleasant Heights Apartments.
Residents in damaged homes weren't allowed to return for 24 hours after the storm. Dutch Village residents got to go back to their homes Thursday morning and get what valuables they could find.
Those in need of assistance had to go to the intake center first. Overnight shelter was to be provided at 2500 East Northern Parkway.
Sawyer Realty, the company that owns Dutch Village, said it would provide housing for its residents.
"It's a blessing we're all alive. That's a blessing. The material stuff -- the houses and cars -- that can get fixed," said displaced resident Karen Brown, who spent the morning at the intake center.
A state of emergency was declared Wednesday afternoon for the areas of Northern Parkway to the north, Pioneer Drive to the west, Pinewood Avenue to the south and McLean Boulevard to the east. It expired at 7 a.m. Thursday. Police said they would have a strong presence in the area overnight Thursday to prevent looting.
Meanwhile, the mayor and several city departments have established the Disaster Relief Fund for Northeast Baltimore for residents affected by the tornado. Sawyer Realty said it will donate $10,000 to start the fund. Those interested in donating can do so through Harbor Bank of Maryland.
Downed Trees, Heavy Debris Reported
"I've seen aluminum siding impaled into homes," Franciotti reported from the area of McClean Boulevard and Northern Parkway. "Trees are down, a couple of cars are smashed.
"I had one firefighter tell me, 'Thank God this happened overnight. Because if this had happened during dinner time, people would be dead with the amount of debris that went flying through this area,'" Franciotti said.
Most residents 11 News spoke with said the tornado happened in only a few minutes.
"I heard hail hitting the house, and that's what woke me up. By the time I looked out the window, this tree was coming into it," said resident Dale Kellenberger.
"It just kind of sounded like I was on a wind tunnel," said Mark Thorpe of Parkville. "I looked out the window and saw a lot of debris, saw sparks and fire and everything because of the electrical lines being taken down."
At least two families were displaced in the Villa Crest community, according to 11 News forecaster Sandra Shaw.
"I had one firefighter tell me, 'Thank God this happened overnight. Because if this had happened during dinner time, people would be dead..."
- 11 News reporter Jennifer Franciotti
Search and rescue teams, along with firefighters, were conducting rescue operations Wednesday morning on Fleetwood Avenue, and paramedics were assisting those who were hurt.
"I spoke with the National Weather Service, who verified that 80 mph winds impacted the northeast corridor of the city and Parkville in Baltimore County," Cartwright said.
A shelter for displaced residents was set up at the Bykota Senior Center in Towson, according to Baltimore County Fire Department spokeswoman Elise Armacost, but was later shut down. County residents in need should call the Red Cross, or they can go to the city shelter at the Mount Pleasant Ice Rink.
Armacoast said fire crews responded at about 1:45 a.m. for a report of a tree that had fallen into a house on Taylor Avenue near Perring Parkway. Click here for more BGE power outage information.
"It sounded exactly like a train coming through. This was probably the most scared I've ever been in my life."
- Viewer E-Mail From Parkville
She said officials were assessing damage to an area bounded by Joppa Road on the north, Harford Road to the east, Perring Parkway to the west and the city line to the south.
Baltimore Gas & Electric had restored power to more than 44,800 customers by 6 p.m. About 2,700 customers, including nearly 2,400 in Baltimore, were still without power.
The winds and rain were part of a strong line of storms moving through late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
11 News received a number of e-mails from viewers who reported severe weather.
"There had to be a tornado in my neighborhood," said one Parkville viewer. "It sounded exactly like a train coming through ... This was probably the most scared I've ever been in my life."
In Carney, a viewer reported, "Lots of trees are uprooted, one fell on a house. Lots of property damage. Most around here are thinking a tornado went through."
Another Parkville viewer said a tree landed "on our chain link fence, bending it in half. There is an entire tree on our neighbor's car."
On the WBAL-TV Facebook page, Michelle Holder wrote that the storm "sounded like a train. I was very tempted to wake my family and head to the basement."
[video]http://www.wbaltv.com/video/25830467/detail.html[/video]
BALTIMORE -- National Weather Service officials confirmed Thursday evening that a tornado did touch down in parts of Baltimore and Baltimore County on Wednesday morning, leaving behind a swath of damage.
The tornado ripped off roofs, uprooted trees and left thousands of people without power.
The National Weather Service said the tornado touched down in the Hamilton neighborhood of Baltimore City and in Parkville, Baltimore County, at 1:35 a.m. with a maximum wind speed of 100 mph.
The NWS said the tornado was on the ground for less than a minute, causing damage in two stretches -- one that included the Dutch Village apartment complex where three units had their roofs blown off. The second began a half mile north and was centered on the Perring Parkway Shopping Center.
The weather service said tornado evidence includes video from surveillance cameras which showed debris blowing in different directions.
City housing officials said 16 buildings housing 54 units were condemned, and more than 300 more units were damaged. Nearly 250 people had to register at the city's intake center, the Mt. Pleasant Ice Rink.
Baltimore County officials said 92 homes were damaged. Building inspectors spent the day Wednesday looking for structural damage and electrical issues.
City and county officials said, however, that it could have been much worse.
"We're very blessed today that we're not talking about multiple lives being lost because of the damage," said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. "The devastation we've seen -- you expect to see that somewhere in the Midwest, not here in Baltimore."
Anthony Burd, of Parkville, told 11 News Thursday that his home security cameras captured what he believed was a funnel cloud whipping around northeast Baltimore.
Baltimore Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright said a few injuries were reported at Dutch Village, but said no fatalities had been reported. Major damage was also reported at nearby Mt. Pleasant Heights Apartments.
Residents in damaged homes weren't allowed to return for 24 hours after the storm. Dutch Village residents got to go back to their homes Thursday morning and get what valuables they could find.
Those in need of assistance had to go to the intake center first. Overnight shelter was to be provided at 2500 East Northern Parkway.
Sawyer Realty, the company that owns Dutch Village, said it would provide housing for its residents.
"It's a blessing we're all alive. That's a blessing. The material stuff -- the houses and cars -- that can get fixed," said displaced resident Karen Brown, who spent the morning at the intake center.
A state of emergency was declared Wednesday afternoon for the areas of Northern Parkway to the north, Pioneer Drive to the west, Pinewood Avenue to the south and McLean Boulevard to the east. It expired at 7 a.m. Thursday. Police said they would have a strong presence in the area overnight Thursday to prevent looting.
Meanwhile, the mayor and several city departments have established the Disaster Relief Fund for Northeast Baltimore for residents affected by the tornado. Sawyer Realty said it will donate $10,000 to start the fund. Those interested in donating can do so through Harbor Bank of Maryland.
Downed Trees, Heavy Debris Reported
"I've seen aluminum siding impaled into homes," Franciotti reported from the area of McClean Boulevard and Northern Parkway. "Trees are down, a couple of cars are smashed.
"I had one firefighter tell me, 'Thank God this happened overnight. Because if this had happened during dinner time, people would be dead with the amount of debris that went flying through this area,'" Franciotti said.
Most residents 11 News spoke with said the tornado happened in only a few minutes.
"I heard hail hitting the house, and that's what woke me up. By the time I looked out the window, this tree was coming into it," said resident Dale Kellenberger.
"It just kind of sounded like I was on a wind tunnel," said Mark Thorpe of Parkville. "I looked out the window and saw a lot of debris, saw sparks and fire and everything because of the electrical lines being taken down."
At least two families were displaced in the Villa Crest community, according to 11 News forecaster Sandra Shaw.
"I had one firefighter tell me, 'Thank God this happened overnight. Because if this had happened during dinner time, people would be dead..."
- 11 News reporter Jennifer Franciotti
Search and rescue teams, along with firefighters, were conducting rescue operations Wednesday morning on Fleetwood Avenue, and paramedics were assisting those who were hurt.
"I spoke with the National Weather Service, who verified that 80 mph winds impacted the northeast corridor of the city and Parkville in Baltimore County," Cartwright said.
A shelter for displaced residents was set up at the Bykota Senior Center in Towson, according to Baltimore County Fire Department spokeswoman Elise Armacost, but was later shut down. County residents in need should call the Red Cross, or they can go to the city shelter at the Mount Pleasant Ice Rink.
Armacoast said fire crews responded at about 1:45 a.m. for a report of a tree that had fallen into a house on Taylor Avenue near Perring Parkway. Click here for more BGE power outage information.
"It sounded exactly like a train coming through. This was probably the most scared I've ever been in my life."
- Viewer E-Mail From Parkville
She said officials were assessing damage to an area bounded by Joppa Road on the north, Harford Road to the east, Perring Parkway to the west and the city line to the south.
Baltimore Gas & Electric had restored power to more than 44,800 customers by 6 p.m. About 2,700 customers, including nearly 2,400 in Baltimore, were still without power.
The winds and rain were part of a strong line of storms moving through late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
11 News received a number of e-mails from viewers who reported severe weather.
"There had to be a tornado in my neighborhood," said one Parkville viewer. "It sounded exactly like a train coming through ... This was probably the most scared I've ever been in my life."
In Carney, a viewer reported, "Lots of trees are uprooted, one fell on a house. Lots of property damage. Most around here are thinking a tornado went through."
Another Parkville viewer said a tree landed "on our chain link fence, bending it in half. There is an entire tree on our neighbor's car."
On the WBAL-TV Facebook page, Michelle Holder wrote that the storm "sounded like a train. I was very tempted to wake my family and head to the basement."
