Tornadoes and heavy rains caused damage on Long Island and in Delaware
Tornadoes during sudden storms in the northeastern United States caused damage to Long Island in New York State and Dover, the capital of Delaware. Heavy rains also caused flash flooding, forcing rescue workers to free people from trapped vehicles.
In Atlantic Beach on Long Island, a tornado swept through the Sun & Surf Beach Club. According to Nassau County Fire Chief Michael Uttaro, one person sustained minor injuries, and at least 50 beach cabanas were significantly damaged. Footage of a large tornado funnel over the water and destroyed small structures on the club’s grounds was posted on social media.
A party was taking place at Sun & Surf during the storm, attended by between 200 and 300 people. Firefighters told Newsday that guests began leaving the premises before the tornado struck. Sun & Surf and the other damaged club, Silver Point, announced that they will remain closed until further notice while damage assessments are underway.
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The U.S. National Weather Service reported that a trained observer also reported a tornado in Dover on Thursday evening. Photos and videos on social media showed a motel’s roof torn off and damage to other buildings along Route 13 northeast of downtown.
Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen said that the state of emergency was lifted on Friday morning so that residents and businesses could resume their normal activities. Local police warned that debris still remains in the city, and lane closures and delays are possible on the roads due to the work of utility and emergency services.
On Long Island, rescue workers were assisting people trapped in their vehicles due to flooding, according to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakey. In Queens, a section of the Long Island Expressway was closed in both directions due to flooding. In Jersey City, New Jersey, emergency responders used small inflatable boats to rescue 69 people from cars that were submerged in water.
