Storm Destroys Adventist School in Pennsylvania

By Adventist Review staff

A powerful storm destroyed a Seventh-day Adventist elementary school in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania on Thursday evening, the school said.

No one was injured.

The storm struck the elementary school at Blue Mountain Academy in the town of Hamburg. Local WFMZ television reported that the storm, described by some observers as a tornado, toppled trees and cut power to more than 2,700 homes and businesses.

“Please keep the Blue Mountain SDA elementary school in your prayers,” Blue Mountain Academy, which operates the school, said in a brief statement on its Facebook page.

“A tornado destroyed the school tonight around 6 p.m.,” it said. “Principal and BMA alumnus Rachel Wardecke was able to escape unharmed.”

Photos posted on the Facebook page showed that the school with its roof torn off and crumbled walls.

No further information about the incident was not immediately available.

School alumni and well-wishers, writing on Facebook, expressed their relief that no one was injured.

“Unbelievable! My folks were some of the founders of BMA and I am an alumna,” said Marsha Kidder Rauch. “So glad no one was hurt!”

“Such a shame!” said Maureen Hodson, an infections preventionist at an area hospital. “Our prayers are with you all as you regroup and rebuild to begin the school year.”