Top New Castle County officials and staff worked quickly to assist victims of the tornado that touched down Monday afternoon in Robscott Manor in Newark along with Aetna Hose, Hook & Ladder Co., DelDOT and Delmarva Power.
New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon, Chief Adminstrative Officer David Grimaldi and Deputy CAO James McDonald were on scene as well as the NCC Communications Van, county inspectors and Emergency Planning Coordinator Dave Carpenter.
Seven homes in Robscott Manor were damaged by the tornado and deemed to be structurally unsound, Carpenter said. No one was hurt.
In addition, one home in Woodland Village off Pleasant Valley Road was damaged, he said.
The American Red Cross had determined that at least two families would need emergency shelter for the night.
County building inspectors finished up verifying the damage shortly after 10 p.m., Carpenter said. All inspectors had been released from the scene.
NCC Command Vehicle, American Red Cross, Delmarva Power, New Castle County Police and the Office of Emergency Management were still expected to be on scene finishing needs assessment until 11 p.m.
Delmarva Power was securing utility lines and restoring power to the greatest extent possible and would likely be on scene throughout the nigth. And the Del. Department of Transportation crews worked to clear trees and limbs from the roads.
Two NCC Police officers would remain throughout the night to provide a roving patrol.
The National Weather Service had issued a tornado watch that lasted until 5:15 p.m. Monday. The tornado warning lasted until 10 p.m.
The National Weather Service decided to send an assessment team out tomorrow to confirm the nature of the event and whether it was in fact a tornado.