2002 La Plata tornado

Top: Reflectivity radar recap of the supercell that spawned the tornado.
Bottom: Velocity radar recap of the supercell.

During that afternoon, a tornado formed from a supercell that developed in central West Virginia and moved across the Appalachian Mountains.[1] The thunderstorm first became first became tornadic near Quicksburg, VA. Several tornado warnings were issued for the Rockingham and Shenandoah counties, where an F2 tornado occurred.[1] Later on at 6:45 pm (EST), a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for northern Charles and Calvert Counties in which a call-to-action statement mentioned the possibility of tornadoes. Just 17 minutes later at 7:02 pm, 6 minutes after the tornado touched down, tornado warnings were issued for Charles and Calvert. During this time there was a problem with the EAS activation process with over 53 percent of the radio stations broadcasting towards the La Plata listening area experienced problems/outages. Around the same time, damage and eye witness accounts indicate that a second tornado formed a quarter of a mile south of the primary tornado. Just within a few minute, both tornadoes crossed the heart of La Plata between 7:02 pm and 7:07 pm, causing catastrophic damage. As the primary tornado continued moving east through the rest of Charles County, the secondary tornado dissipated, peaking at F2 intensity.[4]

At approximately 7:30 pm, the tornado crossed into Calvert County, Maryland, causing widespread F1/F2 damage. As the twister tore through Calvert, it then moved onto it's path over the Chesapeake Bay. Shortly after crossing the bay, the tornado made landfall in Dorchester County, intensifying and causing F3 damage before dissipating as it neared Salisbury, Maryland.

In total, the twisted lasted 90 minutes, scaring a 64-mile path across southeast Maryland.[4]

Entire house leveled by the tornado in La Plata, Maryland - Seven people were inside and all survived.

The tornado took a path through Charles, Calvert, Dorchester and Wicomico Counties, downing or uprooting thousands of trees and leveling several structures, including catastrophic structural damage in downtown La Plata were approximately 65 percent of the area was heavily damaged or destroyed.[5] 3 people were killed and some 122 others were injured. In all, the tornado inflicted $115 million in damage.[4]

After touchdown, F1 damage was reported near Pisgah were a house was unroofed with F3 damage reported in two subdivisions west of La Plata. Unfortunately as the tornado moved southeastward, it continued to strengthen while tearing through downtown La Plata with swaths of F3/F4 being observed. Along Route 6, cars were thrown/tossed over, with the 125-foot city water tower also being blown over. At the Posies Market, only a few walls were left standing. Heavy F4 damage was noted just east of the lumber yard. After leaving La Plata, a heavily wooded area sustained catastrophic damage with several more homes being leveled.  A 51-year-old man was killed with his wife being critically injured when their house, which was under construction, on Hawkins Gate Road collapsed. During the striking of one of the homes near Normandie and Route 6, seven people were inside and miraculously managed to survive.  (3 were already in the basement while 2 others were on the first floor headed to the basement, with the last 2 still on the second floor.) In total across Charles County, 638 homes were damaged while 100 others were completely destroyed. 143 business (mainly in downtown La Plata) were damaged with 49 others being destroyed.[6]

At approximately 7:30 pm, the tornado moved into Calvert County south of the Patuxent River Bridge (Route 231) and struck the Patuxent View development in which over half of the homes were damaged. A home with no anchoring or foundation east of this area was picked up and thrown 80 feet into a culvert, unfortunately killing a elderly couple, whom were in the house at the time. Most of the damage in Calvert was estimated in the F1/F2 range. 125 homes were damaged with another 10 being completely destroyed in Calvert. The Twister then moved out onto the Chesapeake Bay just north of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant with evidence of damage along the shoreline.[6]

After crossing the Chesapeake Bay, the main tornado pushed into Dorchester County just south of Taylor’s Island. F3 damage was reported with one house and several outbuildings being destroyed near Hip Roof Road. Debris from the twister such as cancelled checks, bank/tax documents, and teller receipts from La Plata was found in southern Delaware, well over 60 miles away.[4]

In total there were 5 total fatalities attributed to the tornado, with 3 direct and 2 indirect deaths.[6] This is not the deadliest tornado to strike La Plata. On November 9, 1926, another F4 tornado killed 13 school children and 4 townspeople, injuring some 35. Initially being rated F5, the 2002 La Plata tornado rating was downgraded in a secondary damage survey. This preliminary F5 rating part due to a brick building in downtown La Plata was lowered to F4 after the damage assessment team determined some of the damage was likely due to flying debris from a lumber company nearby. Damage to homes rated F5 were lowered to F4 when an structural engineer performed a detailed analysis of the construction determining these homes were not properly anchored, causing them to fall to lesser winds. This event is largely responsible for how twisters are surveyed day.[4]

Damage from the La Plata tornado.

In the wake of the tornado, Gov. Parris N. Glendening declared a state of emergency in Charles, Calvert and Dorchester counties with County schools and offices closing also. The Red Cross helped place several families in nearby hotels.[4] Just two days later over 90% of the debris were cleared off the roads, opening traffic back up to the area. With media coverage of the deadly twisted being nation wide, building damage surveys were being done by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s, Building Performance Assessment Team, and Wind Engineering Research Council during the same time the NWS was conducting their damage survey.[4] After/due to this event, La Plata placed several tornado sirens all around and near the town for preparation on future storms.[7]

• Tornado outbreak of June 2, 1998
• Tornado outbreak of September 24, 2001

• 1926 La Plata Tornado