Just some of the major damage in and around downtown Bridgeport. Photo by Jocelyne Hudson-Brown

On The Town – F2 Tornado Slams Bridgeport

by Jocelyne Hudson-Brown

BRIDGEPORT – An F-2 tornado touched down in Bridgeport and left a path of destruction in its wake. Hardest hit was the Hollow, the East Side and the East End which represent a large amount of Latino and African-American residents.

As with most severe weather episodes the aftermath is most always peaceful, serene, a glorious day. I guess its nature’s way of softening the blow for those who have been hit the hardest. Now begins the agonizing part, being descending upon by the media, politicians, and Lookie Lous whose presence in their part of town is usually reserved for, well, other things. Getting through the red tape to get assistance or worse still sitting on their stoops waiting for such not knowing where to turn.

There is no real way for an on looker to describe what happened all one is left with is a sense of awe and disbelief when the universe decides to let off some stream, flex it muscles so to speak. Thousands were left without power, trees were upended, steel fences twisted like pretzels, cars crushed and buildings collapsed. All of this having taken place in a matter of seconds. What follows are some of the first hand descriptions:

Victoria Williams: “I noticed it getting dark out and then it started raining. One lady said look and we saw a white wind spinning like a top. It was pointy on the ground and like a funnel on top moving in a circular motion. You could not see anything it was sweeping up everything. Then it was over.”

John Rivera: We had just pulled up (his older mother and two children) and parked and the rain came down hard. I thought I could get out of the car; the wind pushed me back in. All of a sudden, it got dark, the ground shook, and the noise was so loud. So loud. Two trees came out of the ground and the light pole across the street broke in half and was hanging. I thought we were going to die.”

Robert Womack: I have never seen anything like this in my 50 years in Bridgeport. It was an act of God”.

BPD Captain Sapiro: (On the collapse of two chimneys atop the Police Training Academy) “I’ll tell you how you know there is a God. The building shook and there was a big bang and the two eight feet wide by ten feet high chimneys fell, bricks were flying. It was about 2:30 usually at 2:30 the children at the school across the street are getting out.”

James Black: (On the collapse of two chimneys atop the Police Training Academy) “The bricks came flying off the building like leaves off of a tree.”

State Police Officer Terry: There have been no problems; the people have been very friendly and helpful.

U.S. Sen. Joe Liebermann: “I wanted to come to see the damage and to assure FEMA assistance for the City.”

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Fitch: “Bridgeport was hit by a severe storm that hit the poorer parts of the City harder than the rest. We have a long clean up but we will get through it. Gov. Rell and Sen. Lieberman came right away. Bridgeport dodged a bullet.”

FEMA can be reached at __________________________

Jocelyne Hudson-Brown CEO of JHB Media & Public Relations is an award winning journalist and a longtime columnist for the Inquirer/Inquiring News. She can be reached at jhbmpr@yahoo.com.