NWS confirms 6 tornadoes touched down in New Jersey
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (WABC) -- Cleanup efforts continue across New Jersey on Monday after the National Weather Service confirmed six tornadoes touched down on Saturday.
The tornadoes touched down in Howell Township, Jackson Township, Cinnaminson, Sea Girt, Crosswicks and Allentown-Cream Ridge. Local officials declared a disaster emergency on Sunday as residents begin to sort through debris.
The Jackson Township tornado was confirmed to be an EF-2 with winds of 130 mph and a separate tornado that started in Jackson and ended in Howell was also rated an EF-2. The tornado that touched down in Sea Girt was also ruled an EF-2.
Tornadoes that touched down in Cinnaminson, Crosswicks and Allentown-Cream Ridge were all declared an EF-1.
Cleanup is expected to continue over the next few days, due to the extensive damage from fallen trees.
Schools in Jackson and Howell Townships were closed Monday due to tree damage and a number of roofs were badly damaged.
The Jackson School District will reopen on Tuesday under a normal schedule and officials said power has been restored to all schools there.
On Monday, residents said they were counting their blessings that no one was hurt.
"Took down a lot of trees, but thankful to God it didn't really do much damage to the structures, trees fell every which way, took a gutter off a garage, I've never seen it like this here, I hate to say it could have been a lot worse, but it could have been a lot worse," Jackson resident Darren Hoffman said.
Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari is closed until Wednesday to keep employees and guests safe.
Shelters are open for displaced residents and water was being distributed in some areas of Ocean County.
This was the same storm system that left a trail of destruction in the Midwest.
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