SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Residents in Gloucester County are still shaken up by the tornado that ravaged South Jersey, and rightfully so: It was the strongest one the entire state has seen in 20 years.
With winds up to 150 miles per hour, it whizzed nearly 13 miles from Mullica Hill to Deptford, rocking several towns in between, like Mantua, Wenonah and Woodbury Heights.
It caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure along the way. Roofs were torn off and trees were tossed around or uprooted.
The tornado was rated an EF-3 by the National Weather Service of Mount Holly, and its path was up to 400 yards wide in some areas.
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Miraculously, no deaths have been reported as a result; only a few non-life-threatening injuries. Gov. Phil Murphy toured the devastating damage Thursday in Mullica Hill and credits the emergency alert system for saving countless lives.
“Thank God the alerts worked in this case,” he said. “As bad as the damage is behind us, I’m told that family was in the house and they went to the basement and they’re alive.”
Unfortunately, the outcome wasn’t the same in the central and northern parts of the state. Flash flood warnings were issued, but Murphy doesn’t believe people took them as seriously as the tornado warnings. At least 23 people were killed, the majority of them caught by rising floodwater in their cars.
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The EF-3 in Mullica Hill was one of seven tornadoes across the region:
Fort Washington and Upper Dublin Township to Horsham, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Confirmed EF-2 with estimated peak winds up to 130 mph
Edgewater Park, Burlington County, New Jersey, to Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Confirmed EF-1 with estimated peak winds up to 90 mph
Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Confirmed EF-2 tornado with estimated peak winds up to 115 mph
Buckingham Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Confirmed EF-1 with estimated peak winds up to 100 mph
Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Confirmed EF-1 with estimated peak winds up to 90 mph
Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey
Confirmed EF-0 with estimated peak winds up to 75 mph