- Videos posted on social media show a waterspout slamming into Smith Island in Maryland.
- In one video, the waterspout tears through several buildings and sends debris flying.
Videos posted to social media on Thursday showed a waterspout slamming into a small island off the coast of Maryland and causing severe damage to multiple houses.
A video shared on Twitter shows the waterspout moving inland and barreling toward a series of buildings before tearing off parts of the the buildings and sending debris flying.
Unbelievable video from Thursday night on Smith Island from Amy & Daniel Somers. #baycountry979 pic.twitter.com/idjDCPUurh
— Bay Country 97.9 (@bay_country) August 5, 2022
Another video, taken from a different angle, shows the waterspout tearing across the water as someone off-screen says, "It's in the channel." The video shows the wind picking up, collecting debris and tearing the roof off a nearby building.
DRAMATIC video of a resident narrowly escaping the Smith Island tornado, while a house next door takes a direct hit. (language warning). Video from Kathy Taylor-Donaway.
— Rich Wirdzek (@RichWirdzekWx) August 5, 2022
Last loop is in slow motion #mdwx #smithislandmd pic.twitter.com/R2da1K5VRu
Another video taken from a greater distance shows the waterspout extending upwards into the clouds.
— Pam Burget (@pburget1) August 5, 2022
According to local news outlet Delmarva Now, 260 people live on Smith Island, which is composed of three towns — Rhodes Point, Tylerton, and Ewell.
Rhodes Point resident Tiffanie Woutila told Insider the island lost power after the waterspout hit.
"There's one house that's completely demolished, several others lost roofs, it ripped out the only two gas pumps on the island at our Exxon station," Woutila said, describing how boats were "thrown everywhere."
Woutila, who moved to the island in June, said her shed was "ripped apart."
"We have a random roof in our yard," she told Insider. "I don't know of anything like this ever happening here."
The fire departments on Smith Island did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.