Updates courtesy of Gloucester County:
Gloucester County continues to assess damage and respond to requests from residents and municipalities.
Multiple roads and power outages are being reported across Mantua Township, Harrison Twp., Deptford, Wenonah, and Woodbury Heights. Wenonah residents should be aware of wires down and debris.
School closures are in effect in these most affected towns.
There are no additional injuries to report.
Commissioner Robert M. Damminger declared a State of Emergency through Sept. 3. The Gloucester County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) continues to work directly with most affected municipalities to assess damage, provide resources and assist residents.
With the advocation of Senate President Steve Sweeney, Gloucester County will have the federal funding that it needs to recover quickly and effectively.
Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management and Public Works has established a staging area at Rowan College of South Jersey to clear trees and debris in conjunction with the electric companies. The priority remains to make the road ways safe to travel.
Gloucester County Institute of Technology is set up as a Reception Center for individuals to charge cell phones, seek heat relief etc. Water and necessities are being provided by Walmart, CVS, American Water Co., CVS.
The Reception Center is open today, Sept. 2 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mental Health Resources are onsite at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology’s Reception Center.
Gloucester County is not in need of donations at this time.
At this time, the following road closures are being reported:
* Gateway High School to Mail Ave (affecting parts of tanyard rd.)
* Heritage Road between Jackson Road and Main St.
* Breakneck between Barnesboro Rd and Jackson Rd
* Clems Run between 322 and Ellis Mill Rd
* Jefferson Road between Jackson Rd and Breakneck Rd
Please note: This list is not the total road closure list as there are many municipal road closures. Gloucester County is still assessing road closures and will share updates as they become available.
Early Wednesday evening just after 6:30 p.m., a large tornado was seen touching down in Mullica Hill. The massive tornado was seen moving north through the town.
The National Weather Service confirmed that the giant mass moving across the area was a tornado nearly 30 minutes later.
“Tornado has been observed with this warning,” the National Weather Service tweeted. “Please take shelter now!”
Photos and videos of the tornado sighting have been posted across social media, showcasing the large, speedy cyclone going through the community. More and more footage of the damage that the storm has caused is being documented and posted online.
Significant damage can be seen in Mullica Hill where the storm rolled through. Houses throughout the town range in destruction, from minor damage to completely destroyed.
Twitter user Steve Roth took the above photo that presents some of the worst from the storm: houses that used to be in Mullica Hill are seen to be ripped apart and collasped.
“Just wow,” Roth tweeted.
Currently, there are no reports of injury caused by the tornado.
Clearview Middle School has set up shelter for those that faced unlivable damage to their homes. More information on how the community can help are expected to soon follow.
All six south New Jersey counties were under a tornado watch until 10 p.m. Wednesday.
