BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Residents of Connecticut’s largest city counted themselves lucky Friday that no one died in a rare tornado that shredded trees and roofs, took out power lines and collapsed buildings Thursday afternoon.
More than 30 people were sent to hospitals, mostly with minor injuries, after the latest blow to a city that has struggled with poverty, crime and a history of political corruption even as it makes some progress with sports stadiums and downtown developments.
“The tornado touched down for just a short period of time, but it will take several weeks, perhaps months, to put so many lives and livelihoods back together,” said Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who toured the damage Thursday and said the state would pursue federal assistance.
Officials of the National Weather Service confirmed Friday that the storm produced a 100-yard-wide tornado with winds of at least 100 mph that traveled less than a quarter-mile.
Officials at St.
Vincent’sMedical Center said Friday that they admitted two people: one for a broken leg andanother with an oxygen-level problem. Both are expected to fully recover.
Front Section, Pages 8 on 06/26/2010