Tornado hits College Park this afternoon

Hannah Geller April 17, 2017

COLLEGE PARK, Md. Today at approximately 12:09 p.m., a tornado hit

College Park at the corner of Knox Road and Route 1. The storm was rated an
EF3 on the F-scale by the National Weather Service. The F-scale ranges from
EF0 to EF5 and takes types of damage to structures and trees into
consideration.

Governor Larry Hogan issued a state of emergency in Prince Georges

County. This state of emergency will allow emergency responders from Ann
Arundel and Montgomery County to help the College Park community.

Four people were killed. There have also been two dozen patients
transported to the Prince Georges County General Hospital emergency
room. The number of fatalities and injured are expected to rise.

The mayor of College Park, Lara Hollenczer, informed the city that Ritchie
Coliseum on Route 1 is now open and prepared for anybody who needs
shelter. She also explained that at least half of residents do not have
electricity and she expects more to lose their power.

There is one large structure with damage on the University of Maryland

campus. The Mowatt Lane Parking Garage, located near Van Munching Hall
and The Commons residence hall apartments, had a partial collapse. Several
firefighters and two firetrucks are trapped inside the garage.

Many roads through town and on campus are impassible.

Please shelter in place. Its dangerous out there right now. Stay away from
windows and if you can get to a basement please do that as well, Mayor
Hollenczer emphasized.

This is the first tornado that has passed through College Park since 2012.
That storm killed two dozen people and caused millions of dollars in
damages. Mayor Hollenczer estimates that this current storm is worse than
the one in 2012.

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