Columbia, PA tornado damage: Scary videos emerge as Lancaster County hit; West Chester under warning
A severe storm moved through Central Pennsylvania on Thursday, damaging buildings in York and Lancaster counties and prompting a Tornado Warning.
Structures collapse in Columbia
Several buildings in York and Lancaster counties were damaged as a severe storm swept through Central Pennsylvania Thursday afternoon.
The roof at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville, York County, was severely damaged by the storm, which arrived in the region shortly after 4pm.
According to emergency dispatchers, the call first came in around 4:30pm for structure collapses in the 400 block of Locust Street.
Dispatchers said no injuries have been reported, but that at least one person was trapped and is now free.
It is unclear if anyone else was or still is trapped. It is also unclear how many buildings have been involved, but dispatchers said some of the structures were residential, as per Local21.
Tornado Warning issued as storm moves through Lancaster County
By 4:28pm, the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning as the storm moved into western Lancaster County.
The Tornado Warning was initially in effect until 5pm and then was extended to 5:15pm by the NWS as the storm moved northeast across Lancaster County, as per Fox43.
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Here are the videos:
Viewer Jeremy Zarlos sent a video that appears to show signs of rotation in the storm as it arrived in Columbia.
What to do during a Tornado Warning
According to NWS, here’s what to do in the event of a Tornado Warning:
Stay Weather-Ready: Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about tornado watches and warnings.
At Your House: If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don’t forget pets if time allows.
At Your Workplace or School: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent. If you have time, get to a safe building.
In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.
