READING—The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed a tornado touched down near Altay Road at 4:34 p.m. in the town of Reading Sunday, July 13. At approximately 4:50 p.m. the Watkins Glen Fire Department was dispatched to 4324 Route 27 in the town of Reading, for a report of serious damage to a structure from a storm. Upon arrival of Rescue 56, the structure was found to be heavily damaged with the roof completely removed.
Three people were at home at the time of the incident and required assistance in getting out but were uninjured. Rescue 56 successfully removed the three persons from the home. The structure was stabilized as best as possible but is still unsafe for occupancy. The storm tracked east, snapping and uprooting many trees along its path. The tornado blew a canoe 150 yards from a pond. There were numerous large splinters from trees and branches impaled in the ground. The tornado lifted the roof off the house as it tracked into the woods. The tornado continued east, causing only tree damage that tapered off by the time the tornado lifted by Route 14. The following agencies assisted with the incident, the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Emergency Management Office, the Schuyler County Emergency Management Office, the National Weather Service, the American Red Cross, and the town of Reading Code Enforcement Office. All Watkins Glen fire units returned to service at 7:33 p.m.
