Carolina Lavorato

COMM 331
IL- Tornado
17 April 2017

Tornado causes severe damage in college town

COLLEGE PARK, Md.A large tornado hit the city at approximately 8:30 a.m.
The tornado has been initially estimated as a category 4, F3 severe storm.

The storm so far caused the most damage to many heavily populated
areas on Route 1 and Knox Rd. Ritchie Coliseum, a building in College Park
has also been damaged and there is speculation to whether or not there was
more than one tornado. This has yet to be confirmed by the National
Weather Service.

Many power lines are down in these areas. The city has back up
generators to help with the power outages. The approaching thunderstorms
have made it difficult to estimate when power will return to those areas.

The death toll has not yet been confirmed but the mayors office has
states that four people have been killed on Knox Rd. The number of injured
peoples has also yet to be confirmed but Prince Georges Hospital is currently
treating two-dozen patients with injuries.

Hollenczer has not gotten in contact with President Loh, the President
of the University of Maryland, but has spoken with Governor Larry Hogan.
Hogan has issued a state of emergency in Prince Georges county and the
city will be receiving aid from Anne Arundel County and the District of
Colombia.

The amount of damage from the tornado has not yet been released by
the National Weather Service but Hollenczer estimates that it will be similar
to the storm in 2012. The storm that cost $7 million in damage and had a
death toll of two dozen.

Hollenczer and emergency responders are having a hard time reaching

students on the south part of campus at the University of Maryland.
Firefighters are stuck in the Mowatt Parking garage.

Be safe, and stay where you are at, are two things Mayor
Hollenczer advises the community to do.
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