Rome Ravaged by Tornado: Historic Landmarks Damaged, Citizen Miraculously Survive

A confirmed tornado wreaked havoc in the city of Rome, New York, on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction and chaos. The powerful winds upended vehicles, littered streets with tree debris, power poles, and electrical transformers, and even toppled a prominent tourist attraction, a B-52 bomber, at Griffiss Business and Technology Park.

Historic landmarks bore the brunt of the tornado’s wrath, with steeples crumbling and roofs torn asunder at both the 1800s-built First Presbyterian Church and St. Mary’s Church. Notably, St. Mary’s Church, though not active, stands as a private ownership.

Residents of Rome were left in dismay at the sight of the wreckage, with long-time local Barb Mulvey expressing her heartbreak on social media over the damage inflicted upon these beautiful old churches.

Among the casualties of the tornado was a Rome icon, a mural depicting a Revolutionary War figure on horseback, which was obliterated along with the building it adorned, leaving behind only a faint image of a horse hoof.

During her visit to the tornado-stricken area, Governor Kathy Hochul marveled at the miraculous survival of Rome’s 31,000 residents, despite the extensive damage. Hochul recounted scenes of devastation, describing trees resembling toothpicks scattered across the city, houses with roofs ripped off, and mobile homes overturned with occupants inside.

While the city of Rome bore the brunt of the storm’s fierce wrath, tragic news also emerged from Canastota, located about 30 miles away, where an 82-year-old man lost his life due to debris propelled by the storm, as confirmed by village administrator Jeremy Ryan.

Across the United States, the recent spate of storms has resulted in at least five fatalities, including the unfortunate incident in New York. The community now faces a long road to recovery, as they come to terms with the destruction caused by nature’s fury.