Suspected tornado rips through Washington County
A suspected tornado swept through Washington County Saturday evening, blowing out windows and ripping the roof off a Finleyville church and damaging at least a dozen homes in the area.
No serious injuries were reported.
About 55 to 60 people were inside Crossroads Ministries Church at 81 Walter Long Road when the funnel cloud touched down at around 8 p.m., Nick Sherman, chairman of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, said during a press conference at nearby Trax Farms Market, where first responders set up a staging area following the storm. Trax Farms opened its doors to assist those displaced by the storm.
Gerald Coleman, director of public safety for the county, said the storm damage was bad, but could have been far worse.
“Damage to the houses is extensive,” Coleman said, including one that had its roof and second floor blown off.
Joyce and Gene Abel, of 550 McClelland Road in Finleyville, were hosting a birthday party for their 4-year-old granddaughter and were not aware that a tornado warning had been issued until after the storm struck. Several people were outside and spotted the funnel cloud just before it hit. The roof was torn off and there was extensive damage to their house.
The family was being assisted by the Red Cross.
The National Weather Service will visit the storm-damaged area Sunday morning to assess the damage and determine whether a tornado was responsible.