December 15, 2010
By: Jana Bell
Lane County, Oregon, residents witnessed a terrifying tornado rip through residential homes and commercial buildings earlier this week, according to The Register-Guard.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office told the paper the twister headed northeast through 11 blocks of residential and commercial buildings near one local highway. Fortunately, there were no reported deaths or people reported missing.
In addition, there was no property damage estimate available, but officials expect the repair costs to be significant. Overall, 50 homes were damaged and 10 families have been displaced, but the Red Cross opened up a shelter in a local church where food, beverages and financial support are provided for residents, says the paper.
To get an understanding of how powerful the twister was, the paper reported that the walls of a brick church were demolished, a lawn chair was implanted in a windshield, and a fire station flag pole was bent in half. A National Weather Service representative in Portland told the paper that tornadoes in Oregon are rare, but he noted that, on average, they do happen once or twice a year.
The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness recommends homeowners invest in home insurance because it provides sufficient compensation for property that is damaged by severe weather events.
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