Tornado Rips Through University of Maryland
September 26, 2001
Provided by: GLOBE at Night
Summary authors & editor: Jim Foster
Though tornadoes are not rare in the Middle Atlantic states, the tornado that racked the University of Maryland on Monday (September 24) was one of the strongest to ever hit the state of Maryland. Gov. Parris Glendening declared a state of emergency in Prince George's and Howard Counties, just north of Washington D.C. The disaster declaration enables state agencies to help victims and clean up the damage. The photo above shows fire and rescue crews sifting through debris in the aftermath of the storm.
According to the National Weather Service, a funnel cloud was first sighted near the Pentagon building in northern VA just after 5:00 p.m. The funnel passed right over the Smithsonian Museums and was very close to the White House. A few miles further north, the funnel touched down about 5:30 p.m., near the University of Maryland College Park Campus. The tornado remained on the ground for approximately 8 miles. Sadly, two students and one rescue worker lost their lives because of the storm. There was considerable destruction on the Maryland campus and in neighboring homes and businesses.
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