EF2 tornado damages Washington County church; congregants suffer 'minor' injuries
FINLEYVILLE, Pa. (KDKA) - The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down near Finleyville around 6 p.m. Saturday. Crews were out on Sunday to assess the damage and intensity.
Preliminary data suggests three tornadoes touched down throughout parts of western Pennsylvania on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
WATCH: KDKA-TV's Ricky Sayer reports
Officials told KDKA-TV that at least 12 homes were severely damaged by this tornado.
One home lost its entire second floor due to the severe weather, a local church was also heavily damaged and several of those congregants were injured when the tornado touched down, according to Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman.
UPDATES:
— Ricky Sayer (@RickyReports) May 12, 2024
- 12 homes were severely damaged by the tornado in Finleyville
- One home lost its entire second floor
- Officials only know of minor injuries, and say no one was taken to the hospital
- Drones are using infrared cameras to look for those who may need help.
Info is… https://t.co/1EqGfFiklh
A woman inside Crossroads Ministries said more than 50 people were inside the church when the steeple was blown off the building. Cars also suffered damage.
"We were sitting there singing a hymn and the lights started flickering," Linda Desing began to describe. "All of a sudden, one of the windows blew out and everybody ducked for cover. I don't ever want to experience this again; I've thought about what it might be like to be in a tornado, and I don't ever want to experience this again."
Commissioner Sherman added that he only knew of minor injuries to those inside the church in Finleyville when the storms rolled through, but that estimation could change.
Cleanup efforts begin on Sunday at Crossroads Ministries
After the tornadoes ripped through the area in Washington County on Saturday evening, now on Sunday, the damage is being assessed and the cleanup is beginning.
Today, Crossroads Ministries will have service, but it will be online as they work to get back after the steeple was blown off the roof.
Elsewhere, with the tornado destroying 12 homes, including one that Commissioner Sherman believes to be his childhood home, resources are being provided to begin the repair process.
"It's heartbreaking, any time something like this happens, your heart just goes out to these people and we want to make sure we give them all the resources that we have," Commissioner Sherman said.
Police are using Trax Farms as a command post, where residents can seek shelter.
Officials have been using a drone with an infrared camera, flying around and looking for those who need help.
"I feel that God had his hand on us and kept us safe while this whole thing went on. I feel grateful that God was with us tonight," Desing added.