The National Weather Service says a tornado is to blame for a path of damage in Delaware.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency says the storm hit at about 6:45 p.m. Saturday. The EMA’s acting director Sandy Mackey says Delaware never received a tornado warning but made the decision to sound the tornado sirens after members of law enforcement reported funnel cloud sightings.
Michelle Clem was camping at the Delaware State Park Saturday evening.
"The tornado sirens went off and we were like what's going on?," said Clem.
The storm spared the campground but toppled trees and snapped branches near the beach. The storm hit the exact spot where Ironman athletes would gather 12 hours later for the start of the race.
Paul Schimd's wife is a competitor.
"We didn't realize quite how serious it was,” said Schimd. “But then we saw the trees and all these branches and the path that was cut through the woods back there.”
About one mile west of the park, AEP crews worked to restore power to people living along Coover Road where the storm toppled more trees. One narrowly missed crashing through the roof of a house.
The Delaware EMA says cell phone video and photos of what appears to be a funnel cloud inundated social media, but says the National Weather Service wanted to see the damage up close and personal.
"The reason for the visit on site is so they can see the actual branches that are twisted, the directions, maybe a straight line wind, a microburst, or a tornado,” explained Mackey.
Saturday's storm of narrow misses traveled just a quarter of a mile away from where Ironman competitors had already parked at least $5 million worth of racing bikes.
"It would have been a bad insurance claim,” said Schmid. “2500 bikes valued at $2000 each, at least.”
No injuries were reported.