“A lot of cleaning up to do” – Possible tornado does damage in Dagsboro

DAGSBORO, Del. – After a day of random downpours and thunderstorms, severe weather whipped up Sussex County. In Dagsboro, a possible tornado touched down, toppling trees, shredding sheds, and tossing trailers like toys.

“It happened just like that, and it was gone. About 15, 20 minutes it was gone. But it tore the woods back there to pieces and everything. Turned the grass cutters over and upside down,” said John H. Mitchell Jr., whose property was damaged. “After the noise was over, I looked out on the back porch, and trees are down, the sheds are torn up, and everything.”

Mitchell Jr. says he and his wife were watching the storm from inside their home, when it turned severe.

“I came right to the door to look out, because the rain started. It was coming down pretty good. Then all of a sudden, something grabbed that door. I said ‘What the heck?’ It was the wind coming. I had a hard time getting it closed,” said Mitchell Jr. “It was blowing and the house shook a little bit. She said ‘What’s going on?’ and I said ‘We’re getting a tornado or something.'”

This is the first time Mitchell Jr. has seen a storm like this on his property. He says he’s just glad none of his loved ones were hurt. “We’ve got a lot of cleaning up to do,” he said. “We’ll just have to see what comes later.”

The National Weather Service is expected to visit affected areas, and confirm whether a tornado touched down.