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Rebuilding La Plata After the Storm

Debris clutters a neighborhood off Charles Street in La Plata

Deadly tornadoes ripped through Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore April 28, killing at least five people and saddling residents in Charles, Calvert and Dorchester counties with a massive cleanup effort. 

Charles County was hit hardest. More than 800 homes were damaged or destroyed, along with nearly 200 businesses.

In Calvert County, about 160 homes and a business were damaged or destroyed, while in Dorchester County, a home and a barn were destroyed, officials said.

State and federal funds have been pledged to help with the disaster areas. But even before the government's financial aid was offered, volunteers from across the nation came to help with rebuilding efforts.

Most residents in La Plata -- the town slammed the hardest  -- said they were just grateful for what had been spared. "We're so thankful we didn't pull any bodies out of buildings," said Town Mayor William F. Eckman.

The tornado, which was initially ranked by the National Weather Service as an F5 on the Fujita Tornado Damage scale -- the most destructive --  was downgraded to an F4 after further investigation. An F4 produces "devastating damage" with wind speeds ranging from 207 to 260 mph.

"It's still pretty doggone destructive," said National Weather Service spokesman Jim DeCarufel.

A second twister was said to have formed as the first died down, crossing the Chesapeake Bay into Dorchester County, DeCarufel said.

 

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Photos and text and by Gloria Son
Published
Friday, May 10, 2002


Copyright © 2002 University of Maryland College of Journalism

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