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CNN Live Today

Tornado in Maryland Kills Three

Aired April 29, 2002 - 14:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Last evening, a powerful tornado swept across parts of southern Maryland, killing three there. It took aim at small town of La Plata, which is south of Washington, D.C. by about 20 miles.

Matt Ament had his video camera out and took these pictures of the storm. He talked with us last hour, describing what he saw and heard from his driveway.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT AMENT, AMATEUR VIDEOGRAPHER: We were out shooting basketball and could see different sets of clouds going in different direction. Then over the tree line came the huge mass of debris swirling around. So we just watched that and the winds picked up and there was a loud rumbling noise and we got inside the garage a little bit.

I wanted to stay out there and get as much footage as I can. Then the tornado seemed to turn and head a different direction, so we stayed out there and that's when the hail came.

Before we could actually see anything, it was lightning and thundering, and we thought it was just a rolling thunder, but it seemed to go on and on. Then we saw it come over the tree line. It was just a loud rumbling, a loud constant rumbling.

We didn't actually see a strong funnel. It was a huge mass just kind of swirling around and that's all it was. It was all a big black mass, and then that's just debris, and I couldn't even tell you what it was that was flying around -- sheets of metal.

We were close enough to get it on tape, but far enough away to get cover, if we had to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Again, Matt Ament, his thoughts on what he saw through the lens of his video camera. You saw the hail coming down there. It looked like the size of a softball hitting his front yard there.

Andrew Gardner also had his video camera at hand when at least one tornado ripped through Calvert County, Maryland, not too far from La Plata. Andrew, can you hear me OK? ANDREW GARDNER, AMATEUR VIDEOGRAPHER: Yes sir.

HEMMER: Tell us as we role your videotape, clearly the tornado is very well defined. Your thoughts as we watch this about, I'd say, 14 hours later.

GARDNER: Yes, sir. I had the to leave the house, already. So, I heard there was something going on in La Plata, so I threw my camera in the car and figured well, you know, in case something was to happen I might have it.

And sure enough, I was going up Route 4, and as I was going north, it decided it would come right across the main highway.

So I turned around and changed direction and went back, pulled over on the side of the road and just kept it rolling.

HEMMER: Andrew, ever seen a tornado before?

GARDNER: Yes, sir. I used to -- when I lived in Dallas, Texas, we would always try to look for them, but we had never actually tried to catch one on tape.

HEMMER: How does it feel now to be so close to this?

GARDNER: I've been close, and I'll tell you what, it's not fun. It's scary. My heart goes out to the people in La Plata. That's definitely for sure.

HEMMER: You're in Calvert County. Give us a sense of perspective, geography wise, to La Plata from where you were. You mentioned Interstate 4. I'm not quite sure where that is -- go ahead.

GARDNER: Yes sir. Route 4 is probably, I guess, maybe 10 to 15 miles away from La Plata and La Plata would be northwest.

HEMMER: the thing I always want to know, as people are watching this and videotaping it, as you were: did you ever think it would take a turn and head towards you?

GARDNER: For probably about 20 seconds it did, it took a turn. It looked like it was headed perfectly south, just to the opposite side of me, maybe for 20 seconds. It looked like it was shifting right towards me. I thought I was going to have to leave. And then it changed direction and went back south and then maybe two minutes later it went back east.

HEMMER: We heard from CNN's Patty Davis last hour that this has been categorized now as an F-4 storm, which if you know the system, is right up there near the top. Not the biggest or strongest tornadoes, but certainly something that is to be taken quite seriously. And when you look at the damage, did you have indication that this was really something to be reckoned with?

GARDNER: Definitely, from this side. I mean, as soon as I saw the funnel itself -- the more I watched it, the wider it got. And you could just see the intensity and I knew it was going to be pretty bad.

HEMMER: And clearly, there are a number of cars going by on this interstate here. What was the sense that people had? Were they trying to get out of the area? Were they aware of it themselves? Do you know?

GARDNER: Well, I was trying to tell a few people the best that I could, but I couldn't get everybody. And, yes, there were a few people that were just buzzing right by, they really didn't seem to notice.

As it seemed to get a little bit thicker, I think people started to notice it. If you can see, a few cars pulled over and started to ask me about it.

HEMMER: Well, listen, Andrew, good to know that you're OK. And we wish you and your community the very best of luck, because the videotape of the damage is just staggering.

Andrew Gardner, from Calvert County. Thank you -- Andrew.

GARDNER: Thank you very much.

HEMMER: Take care of yourself.

Amazing videotape. And when we see those tornadoes and just the sheer strength that they have and the punch that they can pack.

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