You say tornado, I say wind event, but roofs blew away in Longview
In this photo provided by Eric Atcheson, a large tree lies where it was felled by a tornado that ripped down power lines and damaged property in the southwest Washington State city of Longview Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Police asked residents to avoid a section of the city. Video taken by a citizen appeared to shows roof tiles being blown off a building. "I could see the funnel cloud forming and where it touched down between the alleyway and onto the street right next to us," The Rev. Eric Atcheson said. (Eric Atcheson / Eric Atcheson)
In this photo provided by Eric Atcheson, a large tree lies where it was felled by a tornado that ripped down power lines and damaged property in the southwest Washington State city of Longview Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Police asked residents to avoid a section of the city. Video taken by a citizen appeared to shows roof tiles being blown off a building. "I could see the funnel cloud forming and where it touched down between the alleyway and onto the street right next to us," The Rev. Eric Atcheson said. (Eric Atcheson / Eric Atcheson)
LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — Police in Longview, Washington, are asking people to avoid a section of the city because of damaged property and downed power lines.
The National Weather Service says a “strong wind event” hit the southwest Washington city Thursday afternoon, and video taken by a citizen appears to show a roof being blown off a building.
Jennifer Rossetti saw debris flying past her window at the Minuteman Press in Longview. Rossetti says wind blew the door off a nearby office supply store.
Jalen West, a 17-year-old student at Kelso High School, says a school police officer ran into the gym and told students to move to the locker room.
The Longview Fire Department did not have injury reports or a damage estimate on Thursday afternoon.
Longview is about 50 miles north of Portland, Oregon.