Cape Cod Does Not Qualify For Federal Aid For Tornado Damage

CAPE COD, MA — Cape Cod has failed to qualify for federal disaster relief after two tornadoes tore through several communities, officials said. A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency told the Cape Cod Times the cleanup effort totaled $3.7 million, well below the minimum of $9.6 million required for federal aid.

Officials will attempt to get money in a supplemental state budget after Labor Day, the Times reported.

Two tornadoes touched down July 23, tearing rooftops from buildings, uprooting trees and cutting power to tens of thousands residents and travelers. Outages exceeded 45,000 at their peak.

The National Weather Service said the twisters originated in a "supercell thunderstorm" in Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds. The first went ashore in Barnstable before lifting in South Yarmouth, and the second appeared in Harwich a few minutes later, according to the NWS. Weather officials said "straight-line wind damage" was seen in Chatham and Dennis.

Weather officials classified the tornadoes as an EF1, as they whipped up winds of 110 mph. The EF, or Enhanced Fujita scale, ranks tornadoes from 0-6 in terms of severity.

The first tornado caused significant damage to parts of Yarmouth, blowing the roof off the Cape Sands Inn and sending it into The Cove resort nearby. Widespread damage along Route 28 rendered the road "nearly impassable," according to David Christian, a firefighter on Cape Cod.

Yarmouth police said there was "significant damage" to the inn, as well as tree and electrical damage throughout the community. The NWS said the tornado also uprooted dozens of large trees, blew shingles off a house and sent a tree through the roof of a home in Yarmouth.

The second tornado, which touched down in Harwich, began east of the elementary school, moved northeast through Harwich Center, passed south of the golf course and lifted near Queen Anne Road, according to the NWS. At least 150 hardwood trees were uprooted or snapped, and the winds ripped off shingles from homes, the NWS said.

No injuries were reported during either tornado.

Cape Cod Tornado Coverage

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• Cape Cod 'Open For Business' Days After Tornadoes Rip Through
• Tornado Wreaks Havoc On Cape Cod; State Of Emergency Declared
• National Guard Ready, More Resources Needed
• Cape Cod Power Slowly Being Restored, Still 30,000+ Without