Boston, Mass., narrowly escaped a tornado that ripped through the seaside town of Revere today. Located seven miles north of Boston, Revere is home to just over 53,000 residents according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2012).
“The city is assessing tree removal and safety issues,” said Gerard McGonagle, general manager for BELFOR Property Restoration in Boston and New Hampshire. “There are lots of road closures, damaged roofs, trees into homes and buildings, and some overturned vehicles.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in the Boston area confirmed this morning that a tornado had touched down near Revere in Suffolk County – the first tornado reported in the area since 1950, according to data from the Tornado History Project. A majority of the areas surrounding Boston are currently under a severe thunderstorm watch. The NWS expects to release more details such as the size and maximum tornado intensity this afternoon. Wind gusts reached 68 mph hour this morning according to WeatherBug, and a line of severe thunderstorms generated flash flooding in eastern Massachusetts.
A number of roads throughout Revere are closed due to flooding or debris on the roadway.
Insurers in the area are mobilizing teams to assess the damage. “This intense storm appears to have produced significant property damage, uprooting trees and knocking down power lines to some neighborhoods in Revere,” said Frank O'Brien, vice president of state government affairs for Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. “Residents who suffered damage are encouraged to contact their insurer as soon as possible so that insurance adjusters can help victims put their lives back together.” O'Brien recommends documenting damage and inventorying what was lost or damaged to expedite the claims recovery process.
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