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Virginia, Maryland Clean Up after Tornadoes
Written by
Lesly C. Hallman
, Staff Writer and Photographer, RedCross.org
Monday, September 20, 2004 — MANASSAS, Va.--Remnants of Hurricane Ivan spread destruction across the Mid-Atlantic last week, spawning a record number of tornadoes in Maryland and Virginia that damaged hundreds of homes and businesses and killed at least two people.
“I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’ve seen this happen in more rural areas, but never somewhere so populated,” said contractor Ben McCoy as he looked around a tornado-ravaged neighborhood in Manassas where a tornado touched down. “I came through here on Friday after the storm passed, and I just couldn’t believe my eyes.”
Today houses stand covered with blue tarps to replace sections of missing roofs, and neighborhoods throughout the region are recovering from the unexpected storms.
A tornado left this Manassas home with broken fences and uprooted trees. |
On Friday Virginia Gov. Mark Warner declared a state of emergency after nearly 40 tornadoes were reported. The National Weather Service is reviewing reports of least 40 twisters across the region. In Maryland at least two were confirmed and 17 have been confirmed in Virginia.
“I was watching it until I realized what it was, and then we ran into the basement,” said one neighborhood resident. “It only took 30 seconds, and then it was all over. We are so lucky, because it barely touched our house—just some siding is missing.”
Two women in Cecil County, Maryland were killed Saturday when a massive tree fell on their home after a tornado passed through the area. The total death toll for Ivan now stands at 108 in the United States and Caribbean.
Meanwhile, across the northeast, communities are also dealing with major flooding from Ivan’s heavy rains. In Trenton, NJ, neighborhoods were evacuated today after the Delaware River overflowed its banks. Throughout the region hundreds of roads remain impassable due to flooding.
The American Red Cross is also canvassing impacted neighborhoods to assess storm-related damage and provide assistance to residents in need. Over the weekend the Red Cross opened shelters in several states to house those forced from their homes by flooding or storms. More than 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes in West Virginia after flooding, mudslides and tornadoes created a miasma of dangerous conditions.
Damage estimates from Ivan range from $3 billion to $10 billion. Florida and the Southeast had already been reeling from hurricanes Charley and Frances, which together killed 46 people and caused an estimated $11 billion in insured losses.
You can help the victims of hurricanes, floods and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting our Online Donation Page.
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