EPSOM, N.H. -- Emergency crews have been cutting their way through downed trees to get to homes damaged and destroyed by severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes in central and eastern New Hampshire.
Epsom appears to have been hit the hardest, with the fire chief saying 50-100 homes were damaged, including one that was reduced to rubble.
Governor John Lynch declared a state emergency for five counties and called out the National Guard.
There were early reports of people trapped in homes and in cars. By mid-afternoon, Concord Hospital reported one patient with unspecified injuries. Crews were searching damaged homes for other possible casualties.
Officials are investigating reported sightings of tornadoes and funnel clouds from Epsom and Deerfield in the central part of the state, through Wolfeboro in the north and New Durham in the east.
Power is out in a wide area.
Rescue and chainsaw crews, paramedics and fire crews with all-terrain-vehicles were converging on the damaged area from around the state. A Red Cross team was responding from Maine.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Ft. Hood hero spent time in Boston area Dramatic rescue on MBTA orange line Cars collide; 1 into Peabody business building Hundreds line up for H1N1 vaccine in Wellesley Fire tears through old Lawrence mill Charlestown residents trying to silence historic U.S.S. Constitution New Hampshire police seize 322,000 prescription pills
