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Cleanup After Tornado Hits Property in Union County

LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP — Winds up to 100 miles per hour destroyed a barn and damaged property Thursday night at a farm in Union County. The National Weather S...

LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP -- Winds up to 100 miles per hour destroyed a barn and damaged property Thursday night at a farm in Union County.

The National Weather Service said an EF1 tornado hit the property near Mifflinburg.

A day later, a group of neighbors helped clean up the mess left behind.

The group of about 20 men worked fast, piling scrap metal and old wooden beams into a pile alongside the home.

"We found a big mess. Everything was, you know, leveled. No buildings standing. No barn roof anymore," Mark Spengler said.

Dozens of bikes and some cars were parked out front. Friends and neighbors cleaned up as the National Weather Service and Union County's emergency management team surveyed the damage.

"It started behind the barn and worked its way. It just had the right conditions to form a vortex to make it spin and then when it crossed the road it dissipated," said Michelle Dietrich with Union County EMA.

Only the cement foundation of a small barn is left. With winds up to 100 miles per hour, debris was thrown across the road into a field.

Gloria Sauder, her husband, and their one year old were inside their home when the tornado hit.

"I can't describe it. I just though I was dreaming. At first I thought I was just having a dream," Gloria Sauder said.

During the storm, a giant pine tree in front of the home tumbled down. Luckily it did not hit the home and everyone that was inside is okay.

"It was spinning. It was. My wife said it's a tornado. You could see the debris spinning in a circle slow motion," said John Stank of Millmont.

John and Kathy Stank were driving home during the storm.

"I could see all kinds of pieces of metal and trees and debris like pieces of wood like pieces of house or barn or something," Kathy Stank said.

Emergency management officials said no other damage was reported. The Sauders hope to have the barn rebuilt within a month.

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