This is the terrifying moment a waterspout swept across a Maryland island, injuring at least one person and destroying several homes and businesses.
Footage taken on Thursday evening just before 7.30pm shows the intense waterspout on Chesapeake Bay in Smith Island, Maryland, moving ashore as a tornado in Rhodes Point and then sweeping north across the water towards Ewell.
The natural disaster’s damage has caused over 50,000 power cuts in the Ewell and Rhodes Point areas after severe thunderstorms hit the region on Tuesday night.
The video was filmed by Amy Somers, who was on Smith Island with her children for a summer camp meeting, who said that the waterspout developed ‘extremely quickly’, with her husband Daniel adding that it took off the story of an Airbnb and ‘destroyed’ the house next to it.
Images circulating on social media show the disastrous aftermath of Smith Island, with homes completely destroyed and debris sprawled around the ruins of properties.
Two others also in the 51-second clip shout out to Mrs Somers, ‘Where are the kids?’ as the waterspout goes up the bank and makes its way further onto land.
The mother-of-two reassures the others that her children were inside.
Footage taken on Thursday evening just before 7.30pm shows the intense waterspout on Chesapeake Bay in Smith Island, Maryland, moving ashore as a tornado in Rhodes Point and then sweeping north across the water towards Ewell
The video was filmed by Amy Somers, who was on Smith Island with her children for a summer camp meeting, who said that the waterspout developed ‘extremely quickly’, with her husband Daniel adding that it took off the story of an Airbnb and ‘destroyed’ the house next to it
Two others also in the 51-second clip shout out to Mrs Somers, ‘Where are the kids?’ as the waterspout goes up the bank and makes its way further onto land (pictured) – the mother-of-two reassures the others that her children were inside
‘Also several shanties were destroyed as well as a boat flipped over,’ Daniel Somers told Chesapeake Bay magazine.
He initially shared the video on his Facebook page where many people sent he and his family well wishes.
Posting the clip, he wrote: ‘Amy and the kids are on Smith Island this week. She just sent me this. Thankful everyone is ok. Lots of damage though.’
One user responded: ‘Houses and materialistic things can be rebuilt. Lives cannot. God is good and had his protection over all the people on the island.’
Another commented: ‘OMG that’s the worst one I’ve ever seen. I don’t know how they were able to stay right there at the water and watch it. I would have been running for cover and scared to death.’
Damage has caused over 50,000 power cuts in the Ewell and Rhodes Point areas after severe thunderstorms hit the region on Tuesday night. Pictured, a home destroyed by the tornado
Pictured, a home completely destroyed after being hit by the tornado on Smith Island, Maryland. A series of severe storms are expected to expected to slam into the eastern coast of the United States as sweltering temperatures leave 255million Americans under heat warnings
Ewell Fire Department President Robert Jones told locals: ‘We had multiple tornadoes and waterspouts knocking out houses and powerlines along the way.
‘Some minor injuries but overall nobody is badly hurt. I would have never imagined this to happen here.’
He added that there was no tornado warning ahead of it coming into Chesapeake Bay on Thursday evening.
Governor Larry Hogan has urged residents to stay off the roads in affected areas and that emergency management teams were tracking the damage from the storms.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘Our emergency management team is tracking the damage from tonight’s storms & coordinating with local jurisdictions.
Ewell Fire Department President Robert Jones told locals that there were some minor injuries. Pictured, the aftermath of the tornado on Thursday evening
‘Currently more than 50,000 power outages. Please stay off the roads in affected areas—especially anywhere tree-clearing crews need to work.
‘Somerset County is reporting that a waterspout landed onshore, causing significant damage on Smith Island. We stand ready to assist the local response.’
The National Weather Service has also issued a Special Marine warning for Chesapeake Bay and Tangier on Thursday evening following the dramatic sight of the spinning column of air and water mist.
Over $10,000 has already been raised for recovery and cleanup efforts after the tornado destroyed several homes and businesses.
The National Weather Service has also issued a Special Marine warning for Chesapeake Bay and Tangier on Thursday evening following the dramatic sight of the spinning column of air and water mist. Pictured, the aftermath of the natural disaster
Pictured is a three-storey home, which had it’s top floor completely removed by the tornado on Thursday evening
Intense humidity and heat in the area in recent days has led to the waterspouts dragging itself across the water and then onto the land to become a tornado.
A series of severe storms are expected to expected to slam into the eastern coast of the United States as sweltering temperatures leave 255million Americans under heat warnings.
New York City, Boston, Albany, and Burlington, Vermont, are among the major Northeast cities meteorologists say could experience torrential rain, damaging winds, hail, and possibly isolated tornadoes in afternoon storms on Thursday.
Rains could serve as a brief respite in a nation that has seen temperatures soar throughout the week, with the forecasters expecting temperatures to continue climbing into the weekend.
Temperatures in Boston and New York City could reach 95 degrees on Thursday, and over the weekend the could continue to climb towards the 100 degree mark.
Across the Midwest temperatures have already cracked 100 degrees in some cities and are well on there way in the South, where Richmond is expected to reach 99 degrees today.
Governor Larry Hogan (pictured in April) has urged residents to stay off the roads in affected areas and that emergency management teams were tracking the damage from the storms
