Unprecedented February Weather Causes Havoc in the Region
Wednesday’s severe weather was atypical for February and brought several tornados and storms to the area, leaving destruction and flooding in their wake.
In Chester County around Elverson, gusts of up to 63 mph were reported, causing damage to trees and power lines. An EF2 tornado with wind speeds of between 120 and 125 mph destroyed an Amish school near the Lancaster-Berks county border, making it the first tornado of that strength observed in the state in February since records began in 1950.
Another precedent was created when a second tornado, an EF1 with 100 mph winds, hit Wyalusing, northwest of Scranton in Bradford County. While luckily, there were no injuries reported from either of the tornados, in addition to the school, several barns were destroyed and around 40 houses were damaged. A regional tornado watch was issued Wednesday night, but no new tornados were reported.
Pocopson Township Revisits Past Board’s Decisions
Proving that nothing is set in stone, Pocopson Township supervisors reopened several issues that had already been decided on by the previous board, during the supervisors’ meeting held on Monday.
Among the revisited issues under review are the future of the Barnard House and the earned-income tax, while a decision authorizing an inventory of historic buildings in the township was undone. This decision concerns an agreement with the county, approved in June amid strong opposition, committing Pocopson to pay $42,000 to the county for the study, receiving $30,000 in Vision Partnership grant funds after its completion.
As it was pointed out by supervisors’ Chairwoman RickiStumpo, who voted against the measure in June, the township’s Historical Committee already did an inventory in 2006.
