Officials say tornado damaged trailer park

The storm closed some major Mercer County recreation areas to public access.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
MERCER, Pa. -- The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh confirmed that it was a small tornado that damaged mobile homes in a trailer park near New Lebanon borough.
A spokesman for the federal agency said it was an F-0 twister with winds up to 70 mph that did the damage in a Monday storm that raced across Mercer County. That's the smallest classification of tornadoes.
The tornado was only 70 yards wide but traveled along the ground between two and four miles, the spokesman said.
In addition to the trailer park damage, some homes suffered damage, but only minor injuries were reported.
That same twister is suspected of causing a microburst that hit a one-quarter square mile in Carlton, just northeast of New Lebanon.
Winds in the microburst hit 75 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Authorities said two homes were reported destroyed and about eight others damaged in Carlton.
Monday's storms dumped between 3 and 5 inches of water across the county, prompting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to close most of the recreational facilities at Shenango River Lake.
Areas closed
The water elevation was 6 feet above summer pool level at midday Tuesday and still rising.
The Shenango Recreation Area and campground, Clark Recreation Area, Hartford Access Area, Parker's Landing Access Area, Big Bend Access Area, Golden Run Wildlife Area and the Route 18 Access Area are closed.
The launch ramp at Mahaney Recreation Area is closed, but the picnic and playground areas remain open.
RC's Marina at Clark had its docks and launch ramp closed but its repair shop and restaurant remain open.
A bit farther north, water rose about a foot at Pymatuning Reservoir in southern Crawford County.
Dennis Mehoci, assistant manager of the Pennsylvania state park there, said 4.5 inches of rain fell Monday and the dam gates were shut down before 2 p.m. to protect the Shenango River and Shenango River Lake downstream.
The water was still rising Tuesday afternoon, he said.
No facilities were closed at Pymatuning but Mehoci said people who have boats on the lake are advised to check their craft's mooring.
Buhl Park
Buhl Park in Hermitage remained closed today after 50-60 trees were knocked down by strong winds Monday afternoon.
The park's outdoor pool is still closed as well and officials weren't sure the park would be ready for the public Thursday.
Elsewhere, municipal and private cleanup crews in Hermitage, Shenango Township, Greenville and elsewhere worked around the clock to clean up debris from the storm.
There were hundreds of downed trees that took out power lines or blocked roads and streets. Some also damaged homes.
Penn Power reported that it had restored power to about 20,000 customers in Mercer County as of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, with 6,000 still without service.
All power was expected to be restored by nightfall today, barring any additional storm damage.
The Mercer County 911 Center reported handling more than 1,000 calls for emergency assistance during the storms but reported only minor injuries.
The center was trying to compile an estimate of storm damage but had nothing available Tuesday.
The 33rd annual Jefferson Township Fair, which was to open Tuesday, has delayed opening until 5 p.m. today.