Storm Leaves Behind Heavy Damage in Elmira (with photos/video)

Strong thunderstorms and a reported tornado resulted in a great deal of damage in the Elmira area late Thursday afternoon. There were reports of trees and power lines down, and people trapped in buildings and cars after the storm went through. The Chemung Co. Emergency Management Office is reporting a tornado touched down, but there has been no confirmation from the National Weather Service. A State of Emergency has been declared for the City of Elmira. 

First responders from Yates, Schuyler, Seneca and Steuben Counties have been summoned to the area to help out.  Fire companies from Dundee, Watkins Glen, Hammondsport, Montour, Bath and Savona have all sent crews to the Elmira area. 

As of 7 a.m. Friday, 16-THOUSAND NYSEG customers were without power in Chemung County; 4,300 in Steuben and 19 homes in Schuyler. 

If you have an appointment at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital, patients must call their doctor to make sure their appointment is still on.

A State of Emergency was declared by Governor Andrew Cuomo for Chemung County and the city of Elmira is under a curfew until 8 this morning. Chemung County Spokesperson Karen Miner:

Minor says there's some good news to point out from the storms

Sheila Thomas works at a hotel in Elmira and says the storm was intense.

Alicia Woodhouse is the bartender at Horigan's Tavern in Elmira.

staff meterologist Kevin Williams says the intensity of the storm was expected

Photo: Jessica Stansfield poses for a photo below an enormous uprooted tree in Elmira after the town was hit by a possible tornado (Adam Fenster / Reuters)

A photo of the storm approaching the Arnot Mall in Big Flats. Photo by David Grimaldi (http://instagram.com/p/NjnDMROgKb/)

 from: @reedtimmerTVN on Twitter:

at Best Buy near the Arnot Mall: courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/adwheelerphoto

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