Cleanup begins after two tornadoes hit western New York

Emergency crews continue to clean up after two tornadoes touched down in western New York state on Wednesday, as the region feels the remnants of what was Hurricane Beryl.

The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in the town of Arkwright, Erie County, at 12:06 p.m. with an estimated top speed of 110 mph and ended in the town of Hanover at 12:14 p.m., with a path of three miles (5.8 km). An EF-0 tornado touched down in the town of Eden, Chautauqua County, at 12:40 p.m. and ended just under a mile (1.6 km) away in Eden. Its estimated top speed was 85 mph, according to the NWS.

Damage was mainly spread across northern Chautauqua County and southern Erie County. Trees were uprooted, branches scattered, barns partially collapsed and roofs torn off, with pieces in trees.

Crews equipped with chainsaws worked to remove a large number of trees blocking the intersection of Straight and Zahm roads in Forestville.

Amber Mazany, who has only lived in Forestville for a short time, was on her porch when the storm hit.

“It was terrifying because I had never experienced anything like it before,” she said. “All of a sudden I heard a strange noise behind me and I thought it was like a jet. And it got really loud, so I ran into the house and all of a sudden everything started shaking. I saw a tree flying past my window. I was crouching in the hallway because the house was shaking. It went by really fast. It was so loud my ears were plugging. That was probably the scariest part.”

The road has since been reopened, but the cleanup for many homeowners is expected to last several days.