Emergency Officials Revise Pa. Tornado Damage Cost

Emergency officials said their damage estimate of $4.5 million for last week's tornado in Greensburg is likely to increase, even though their estimate of how many homes were completely destroyed has decreased.

Westmoreland County officials initially believed about 30 homes were destroyed and 60 others damaged in Wednesday's 120 mph tornado. Most of the damage was in Hempfield Township, near the Route 30 corridor about 25 miles east of Pittsburgh.

But now officials said only nine homes were completely destroyed -- though nearly 150 homes and other structures were damaged, including Hempfield Area High School, which alone suffered about $1.5 million damage.

Disaster restoration crews spent the days after the tornado hit cleaning debris and fixing damage at Hempfield High School after the twister tore through the building and other areas of campus.

The tornado ripped apart the field house behind the school, destroyed the scoreboard sign and reduced the concrete press box to a pile of rubble.

Last year, the school spent $660,000 installing a new layer of artificial grass.

Students participating in after-school activities were at the high school when the tornado struck. Many of them told Channel 11 News that they had to take cover.

Senior Amy Jo Sarracino said she was at play rehearsal when the tornado struck.

“Lights went off and alarm going off; it was horrible,” said Sarracino.

State police were also on constant patrol. One trooper told Channel 11 News they were looking for looters who were trying to steal scraps of aluminum.

Westmoreland County Emergency Services Director Dan Stevens credits teachers and staff members for getting everyone to safety.

"Buildings, stadiums, that can all be replaced. We, as of right now, have not lost a life," Stevens said. "No one countywide was injured. We have no fatalities. This is absolutely a March miracle."

"I really want to commend the staff and students that no one was injured,” said Superintendent Terry Foriska.

Thirteen other homes had major damage -- such as roofs completely blown off -- that will require major repairs, and 126 had lesser damage ranging from broken windows to losing shingles.