Tornado Strikes Retirement Home in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, Causing Evacuations

CONNEAUTVILLE, PA. – A tornado hit a retirement home in northwestern Pennsylvania, destroying a roof and causing moderate to heavy damage, authorities said. No serious injuries have been reported.

Meteorologist Mike Griffin of the National Meteorological Service's office in Cleveland said the EF-2 filter collector was blowing up to 115mph at the Rolling Fields senior care community in Conneautville, about 40 miles to the south from Erie, around 14:40. Tuesday.

Rolling Fields said in a statement that all residents were evacuated and that there had been no serious injuries, although "two residents were hospitalized for reasons unrelated to their relationship".

"At this point, our primary focus is on seniors (residents), care partners (employees) and all others on the site," said Lisa Haglund, vice president of marketing and development.

The American Red Cross has opened a reception center for the 162 residents of the community at Conneaut Valley Middle School. In an e-mail to CBS Pittsburgh, the American Red Cross announced that older residents would stay in college until housing could be arranged.

David Peterman, 67, told Erie Times-News that he had witnessed the storm that uprooted 10 large trees on his property.

"I saw the tornado coming in and I could see the debris flying in a circle," he said. "I entered the house and told my wife to go down to the cellar, she went down the stairs halfway and the lights went out, there were only a few minutes left and it was crossing our property. . "

Peterman said that the storm had damaged the mobile home that his niece owned on the other side of the road, cutting down two trees and taking everything off the bridge.

Chief Randy Boyle of the Hayfield Township Volunteer Fire Department said the storm had cut down trees and branches and damaged the roof of several buildings, but no injuries had been reported.

"We are grateful for the safety and well-being of our (resident) elders," said David Smeltzer, Executive Director of the Rolling Fields Seniors' Community, in a Facebook publication. "We are very proud of Tanya Bish, administrator and our team, for their quick and professional work, and in a few moments they have moved our residents (seniors) to ensure safety."