Gov. Parris N. Glendening, who flew in by helicopter and walked through the damaged development last evening, said, "I'm very pleased how quickly there was coordinated response. Both the county and the state were there within three to five minutes."
"The whole area is being secured by state police and heavy lighting equipment is being set up by the National Guard" to prevent looting, the governor said.
The storm was the most serious of its kind in Maryland since October, when thunderstorms fueled by heat and humidity ripped across Central Maryland, producing tornado-like activity in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford and Prince George's counties. About 20 people were injured.
But the confirmed tornado many in metropolitan Baltimore remember was one with winds of 75 to 100 mph in Northwest Baltimore County on Oct. 18, 1990, that leveled houses and destroying apartments in Reisterstown. Nine people were injured.
Powerful thunderstorms, including several tornadoes, ripped through several densely populated Baltimore neighborhoods on Nov. 1, 1994, and caused damage elsewhere, as well. The 1200 block of W. North Ave. was hit particularly hard. Nearly 200 families were displace.
Pub Date: 7/20/96
