By Mark Scott
Mayville, NY – A tornado tore through parts of Chautauqua County Saturday, ripping the roof off a condominium and damaging 17 others and causing widespread power outages. The National Weather Service said the twister touched down in Mayville at 4:48 p.m.
Chief Don Emhardt of the Dewittville Volunteer Fire Company said the twister damaged some 18 condo units in a complex overlooking Chautauqua Lake as well as a nearby golf course.
Jim and Mary Conway of Shaker Heights, Ohio, were in their vacation condo when the tornado tore the roof off and part of the walls.
"I jumped up and all of a sudden the windows were breaking, glass was everywhere and rain was hitting us," said Mary Conway.
Matt Munson was in the clubhouse of the Chautauqua Point Golf Club and saw the twister approaching.
"Three seconds later you hear, "Bang, bang, bang," as plastic chairs from the course struck the clubhouse, Munson said.
There were no reports of injuries. A National Grid spokesman said the storm left 12,500 homes without power.