Posted on 08/21/2004 8:02:44 PM PDT by nuconvert
Storm Topples Trees on Campers; 10 Injured, Including One Critically
By Erik Stetson/Associated Press
HAMPTON FALLS, N.H. (AP) - The owners of a campground where a powerful storm left 10 people injured began cleaning up Saturday while campers who were hurt recovered in local hospitals. The narrow, localized thunderstorm moved in Friday night, trapping people under downed trees and toppling power lines in Wakeda Campground and on roads leading to it, police said.
"Whole families have shown up with their work gloves on, and husbands with chain saws, so we've had a very productive day," said Karen Bark, co-owner of the campground.
Eight people were hospitalized in stable condition Saturday afternoon, Bark said. One was in critical condition, and the other in guarded condition.
"People were just screaming," said Rebecca Duclos of Manchester, who was camping with her husband and two children.
Josh Grant, of Newbury, Vt., said his parents were hospitalized after a tree crushed their camper. He said both were conscious when reached by rescuers but were pinned by branches.
According to its Web site, the Wakeda Campground has 400 campsites and cabins over 180 acres, not far from New Hampshire's seacoast.
Elsewhere in the Northeast, thunderstorms in Connecticut knocked out electrical service to more than 32,000 homes and businesses.
Storms also caused scattered power outages in Massachusetts. A tornado in Pittsfield damaged buildings and ripped the roofs off the dugouts and clubhouse at a park.
> A tornado in Pittsfield damaged buildings and ripped
> the roofs off the dugouts and clubhouse at a park.
The NH storm may have contained an unreported tornado, or
a near-tornado.
The same thing happened in my condo development in Nashua
(NH) around 1980. Tornadoes may be more common than folks
in the NE commonly assume.
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