MAHANOY CITY, Pa. — Members of the National Weather Service spent hours in Schuylkill County on Tuesday, now confirming an EF-1 tornado touched down in Mahanoy City. The strong storms moved through the area Monday night.
"It was spinning like a twirl. Like an actual tornado it was ripping houses apart," recounts nine-year-old, Nathan Weikel.
It was a never seen before sight in Mahanoy City as storms ripped through Schuylkill County on Monday night.
"Things get dark, lightning start to flash, and the sound" recounts a Mahanoy City resident.
People were so stunned in the borough they captured it on camera, like West-End Firefighter Dillion Davidson.
"Everyone says you can't have tornadoes because the mountains- but I've seen it form though," said Davidson.
But as the sun came out on Tuesday, it shined on all the damage left in the storm's wake.
"We're looking around seeing the damage we didn't see when we were running from it," boasted Weikel.
The 9-year-olds weren't the only ones. The National Weather was out doing the same. The group of meteorologists were surveying damage, confirming Tuesday evening an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds up to 90 mph.
"I guess they're still saying it's a potential tornado. Based on the social media reporting and everyone who had their phones out- I think we could probably say it was a tornado but we're still waiting on the official word," said John Blickley of Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency.
After the storm moved out, damage could be seen all along West Center Street. The dollar general sign was ripped apart. As the fire department was busy responding to the damage, the chief got a call of his own.
"Somebody sent me a picture around 10:30 at night saying 'hey we found the rest of the dollar general sign. It's in your back yard," said Chief Dan Markiewicz.
He says they're is lucky no one was hurt with the strength of the storm.
"If this is the worst I had and a little bit of damage to my siding and whatnot. I'll take it," said Markiewicz.
Through the darkest clouds, these neighbors are still finding the silver lining of it all.
"I think it brought everyone together way more than it was because so, that's a good thing. Because once it passed through everyone was out helping each other," said Dillon.
Despite being closed Tuesday due to damage, the Mahonoy City School district says it will still be holding graduation Wednesday night.
The National Weather Service out of State College has completed their survey of storm damage. However, it has not yet released its findings.
For those with storm damage, Residents in the Mahanoy City area should contact their homeowners insurance, take pics of damage, and keep any receipts of costs incurred.
Damages should be reported to the Mahanoy City Borough Office at 239 E. Pine Street, Mahanoy City. Residents may also call the Schuylkill County Office of Emergency Management at 570-622-3739. All damages will be verified by Municipality and County.
The County is reminding residents that no guarantee of assistance available. The county does not believe the damage will meet the necessary threshold to meet FEMA assistance requirements.