The Washington Post 16:15 JST, June 7, 2024 Residents surveyed damage to their neighborhoods on Thursday and work crews deployed across Montgomery County to clear uprooted trees, restore power and reopen blocked roads after a “supercell” storm unleashed multiple tornadoes that swept across Maryland the night before. Emergency responders worked swiftly Wednesday evening to rescue people from damaged homes and sent at least five people to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Montgomery County officials said the region was fortunate to have avoided more-serious injuries during a storm that hit the heart of the county in the early evening, when many people are normally commuting or having dinner.
Residents of neighborhoods hardest hit by the storms credited early warnings on their phones and television advising them to seek shelter. Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard said the tornado missed most population centers as it barreled through the county. “All in all, we got very lucky,” said Stoddard, who was overseeing the county’s response while County Executive Marc Elrich (D) was at a San Diego conference to recruit life sciences businesses to the region.
The Capital Weather Gang reported that the storm Wednesday was one of the most significant tornado outbreaks in the state in years. There have only been seven days since 1950 in which the state has experienced half a dozen or more tornadoes. The National Weather S.
