2 Tornadoes Strike Montgomery County: Emergency Officials

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Two tornadoes likely struck Montgomery County Wednesday night, damaging at least four houses as trees crashed into them, officials said, while five non-life-threatening injuries reported.

Pete Piringer, spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, shared video from Dogwood Drive in Gaithersburg of a tree that crashed into a house, trapping four of the five residents inside. All were rescued from the home, some with injuries.

Poolesville, Maryland, tornado ⁦@MontgomeryCoMD⁩ pic.twitter.com/baqGoIqLhO
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) June 5, 2024

“It was really quick, I think in those moments you don’t really understand what’s happening until it’s over,” said Mariela Cabanillas, a Gaithersburg resident who took cover in a basement during the storm, told The Washington Post. “The wind was super loud and the rain was really hard.”

A neighbor’s tree fell into Cabanillas' yard, while another tree crashed onto a neighbor’s house, she said.

Montgomery County's Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security urged residents to be cautious when outside and to report any downed wires to the Montgomery County Police Department's non-emergency line at 301-279-8000 unless there is imminent life safety risk.

Call 911 only to report life-threatening emergencies.

Related: Tornadoes Touch Down In MD, Rescues In MoCo: County

The National Weather Service and OEMHS are doing ground assessments overnight to confirm the area was hit by twisters.

Between 6 and 8:30 p.m., Montgomery County Fire Rescue Services communications responded to 88 total incidents, with about 35 related to the storm. There were reports of five trees on houses, ten reports of wires down and nine personal injury collisions.

As of 10:30 p.m., about 650 homes were without power.

Power outages should be reported to your power company:

• BG&E (877-778-2222)
• First Energy/Potomac Edison (1-888-544-4877)
• PEPCO (1-877-737-2662)

The County's Department of Transportation's Storm Operations Center is responding to reports of downed trees. To report a downed tree, complete a service request at https://www3.montgomerycountymd.gov/311/SolutionView.aspx?SolutionId=1-27LDL1 or call the police non-emergency line at 301-279-8000.

DOT reports that some roads are closed because of storm damage.

OEMHS shared these tips for what to do following a tornado:

• Keep your family together and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
• Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in them.
• Watch your step for broken glass, nails and other sharp objects.
• Stay out of heavily damaged houses or buildings; they could still collapse.
• Do not use matches or lighters in case there is a gas leak.

For severe weather and emergency notifications, sign up for Alert Montgomery at alert.montgomerycountymd.gov.

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