Westfield Tornado Package

[Written by Erika Waddell, based on news stock footage]

(studio – anchor)
A tornado ripped through a New Jersey neighborhood this afternoon. There’s a lot of damage, but fortunately, no one was hurt. Erika Waddell is live on the scene. Erika -

(live shot – on street, fire trucks in background)
We’re on North Avenue in Westfield, New Jersey, a place where people usually don’t have to worry about tornadoes. But tonight, power lines are down and residents are shaken after one touched down right here.

(trees down, garage collapsed)
VO: This neighborhood was left a mess after a tornado whipped through around 3 this
afternoon. Winds were strong enough to uproot large trees and even caused some structural damage.

(Woman with umbrella)
SOT: It was a very big cloud up in the sky swirling around. It was coming from South Avenue up toward North Avenue, and it was just coming across the railroad tracks.

(Man witness)
SOT: Very dark clouds. The wind was blowing maybe over 75 miles per hour.

(Residents gathered on street, scene shots)
VO: When the weather cleared up, stunned residents gathered to survey the damage and share their experiences.

(Woman witness)
SOT: I’ve never seen anything like it, myself. It was swirling around like something you might see on a TV program how the wind whips around in a big circle.

(Uprooted trees, close up on roots)
SOT: And then you saw the trees fall? Yeah. The roots ripping out of the ground, you could hear that. It was a sight.

(Home with tree on roof)
VO: One home was seriously damaged when two uprooted trees crashed on its roof.

(Man next to house)
SOT: There’s a lot of structural damage and every room is pretty well smashed. The ceilings are down and there’s a lot of damage on the walls.

(House from different angles, zoom on roof damage, backyard shot)
SOT: It’s pretty lucky that no body was here. You see the news, you see it all the time but you never think it’s going to hit in New Jersey.

(live shot – on street, fire trucks in background)
Trees also fell onto power lines, causing a transformer to spark. Crews are busy trying to restore power tonight. North Avenue and other streets in the area will be blocked off until sometime tomorrow. Reporting live from New Jersey, I’m Erika Waddell.