Wyoming County responds to EF-2 Tornado, asks residents to contact them

WARSAW, N.Y. (WHEC) — Wyoming County Office of Emergency Services is asking its residents to send them information about any personal property damage they may have experienced by the EF-2 tornado that touched down on Thursday.

At 10:40 a.m. on Thursday an EF-2 tornado touched down southwest of the intersection of Chaffee Road and Route 78 three minutes after an emergency notification was issued.

The National Weather Service has confirmed peak wind speeds of 115 mph with the path of destruction covering 500 yards wide and 10 miles in length dissipating just before Route 19. The updated weather statement from the National Weather Service can be found here.

As of 8:00 a.m. Friday there are 24 structures with reported damage. The most significant damage includes two (2) barns which were completely demolished, three (3) garages/barns with major damage, eight (8) houses with moderate damage and eleven (11) other properties with minor damage. Damage to structures is estimated to be over $1.2 million. One family was unable to return to their home and was assisted by the American Red Cross.

At the peak of this incident, there were 1,436 homes without power. Power was restored to all of these residents by 9:00 pm Thursday evening. Route 78 was closed between Chaffee Road and Route 362 for a total of four (4) hours while crews worked to remove over a dozen trees that had fallen across the roadway.

If residents experienced damage to any personal property, including homes, sheds, barns or automobiles, the county asks that you please send pictures along with your name, address, phone number, estimated amount of damage, and if your property is insured to oem@wyomingco.net.

The Emergency Services Office is working with New York State to determine if necessary thresholds have been met for any assistance.

The following agencies assisted in the tornado response:
Wyoming County Emergency Services North Java Fire Company
Bliss Fire Department Gainesville Fire Department
New York State Police Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office
Wyoming County Health Department Wyoming County Building Codes
Town of Java Highway Town of Arcade Highway
Town of Wethersfield Highway New York State Department of Transportation
NYSEG/RGE National Grid
American Red Cross National Weather Service – Buffalo
Community Action for Wyoming County
New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services