Kitsap County sent this bulletin at 12/19/2018 05:28 PM PST
Kitsap County responds to Port Orchard tornado
We continue to work with our law enforcement partners and other agencies to determine the level of damage caused by the December 18 tornado that hit South Kitsap County. We have a profound sense of gratitude and amazement that no serious injuries were experienced as a result of the storm. The focus now is to help the individuals and families as well as businesses impacted by the damage.
Update on Category of Storm:
The National Weather Service team surveyed the damage and concluded that it was a strong EF2 with peak wind speeds between 120-130 miles per hour and an estimated maximum width of 250-350 yards.
The tornado touched down at about Geiger Road, which is off Sedgwick. It traveled southwest to northeast, cutting across the Bethel-Salmonberry area. The heaviest damage was seen in the Harris Road-Tiburon Court area.
Damaged Structures & Inspections:
Teams made up of staff from South Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Puget Sound Energy, Cascade Natural Gas, Kitsap County Department of Community Development, and Port Orchard Department of Community Development are continuing to inspect the 250 homes damaged in the tornado. Below are the results as of this time:
11 Red Tags (Unsafe – Dangerous to Occupy)
12 Yellow Tags (Limited Entry – Off limits to unauthorized personnel. The structure has been damaged and its safety is questionable. Enter at own risk.)
160 Green Tags (Inspected – No restriction on use or occupancy.)
Each building where an inspection has occurred is now marked with a red, yellow, or green tag.
Homeowners, with proper identification, should check-in with law enforcement at the road closures to gain access to the restricted area.
Homeowners who are working with contractors, insurance adjusters or other professionals and need access to the restricted area should go to the Christian Life Center, located at 1780 SE Lincoln Ave SE in Port Orchard, to speak with staff at Incident Command.
It is anticipated the teams will continue the inspections after dark and arrangements are being made to provide light for them to continue the work.
Number of Outages
According to Puget Sound Energy, the number of homes and businesses without power has diminished significantly since last night. For updates on power outages, please see the PSE website: https://www.pse.com/
Displaced Residents:
Residents needing overnight shelter are welcomed to stay at the Red Cross Shelter that has been established at St. Gabriel Catholic Church at 1150 Mitchell Ave.
Volunteers and Donations:
The Kitsap United Way and the American Red Cross are accepting donations for the Kitsap County Tornado event.
Impacted residents can call Kitsap1 for additional information at 360.337.5777 starting Thursday morning.
Additional document of Frequently Asked Questions are designed to help those with homes in the impacted area.
