A tornado that tore through Otsego County on Tuesday displaced residents, damaged homes and downed trees and power lines across many communities, officials said.
The National Weather Service confirmed the storm as an EF-1 tornado after surveying damage in the area. Forecasters said the tornado was on the ground for just under 20 minutes and tracked roughly eight miles through the town, leaving a clear path of destruction.
The county’s Office of Emergency Services said the tornado’s path was identified along County Highway 49 near Ketchum Road. Several roads were left impassable by downed trees and wires before crews could clear them.
Officials said at least six residents have been displaced and four structures are considered total losses. Several other homes sustained significant damage. No injuries have been reported.
“It just went from heavy rain to hail and really strong winds,” said resident Celine Francisco. “And then we saw trees snapping off in our backyard.”
Francisco said fire crews responded quickly to help reopen one of the main routes through the area.
“The fire department got here, slowed traffic down and immediately started trying to get those cut up and at least dragged out of the highway so traffic could go through,” she said.
The Otsego County Board of Representatives declared a weather-related state of emergency in Pittsfield on Tuesday after determining some roads were unsafe to travel. The order restricts unnecessary travel and will remain in effect for up to 30 days or until it is officially lifted.
Along the tornado’s path, residents and business owners spent Thursday cutting up downed trees, securing damaged roofs and assessing what can be salvaged.
“That’s not as bad as it looks, because it’s just the framework here. And the tin roof,” said resident Garry Lawyer, standing next to a damaged structure on his property. “That’s a day’s worth of effort to fix the structural damage.”
Tree crews said the scope of damage to wooded areas has been difficult to see.
“It’s very disturbing to see the amount of damage that’s done to the forest and the surrounding area, and just to come on to a property and see trees uprooted,” said Nathan Waterfield, president of Timberworks Tree Services.
(Spectrum News 1/Corey James Photo)
Waterfield said crews are working through extreme heat and humidity as they respond to calls.
“The heat isn’t helping anything, and humidity is really difficult. We have a backlog of work as it is,” he said.
The National Weather Service rated the storm EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which is based on estimated wind speeds derived from observed damage. An EF-1 tornado typically has estimated three-second wind gusts between 86 and 110 mph and can uproot trees, peel roofs from homes and destroy weaker structures.
County officials say the Pittsfield storm is the strongest tornado to hit Otsego County since another EF-1 was recorded in 2011.
Beyond structural damage, the storm knocked out power and internet service to parts of the town. Some residents are relying on generators while utilities work to restore service, and internet providers are in the area to reconnect customers.
Damage assessments are also ongoing in the town of Laurens, where storm survey teams identified indications of tornadic activity along Crawford Road near County Highway 10.
Local officials say cleanup will take time but credit neighbors, volunteer firefighters, highway crews and utility workers with helping the town begin to recover.
In West Laurens, residents say that community response has been one of the few bright spots after the storm, from people lending generators to bringing their own chainsaws to help clear roads and driveways.