Fierce storm hits New Hampshire

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Photo: Fierce storm hits New Hampshire
ap photo
Firefighters check for survivors after a severe thunderstorm and possible tornado leveled a house in Epsom, N.H., Thursday.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Reports out of New Hampshire say that a fierce storm this afternoon destroyed at least a half dozen homes and damaged another 100.

Authorities confirm that one person was killed when a storm leveled a house Epsom, New Hampshire.

State Emergency Management spokesman Jim Van Dongen says there are other injuries, but he does not have a number or know how serious they were. Police and firefighters are going door to door in towns from Epsom to New Durham looking for people.

Some witnesses described seeing a funnel cloud or clouds in violent storms that started just before noon.

New Hampshire utilities say the storm that swept through the state knocked out power to 6,000 customers.

Public Service of New Hampshire is reporting 2,600 customers lost power Thursday from heavy winds and a possible tornado. They are mostly in Belknap, Carroll and Strafford counties. The company is supplementing its crews with utility workers from other states.

The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative also reported about 3,400 customers lost power from the storm. They are mostly in Northfield, Epsom, Alton and New Durham. A spokeswoman said at least 20 poles are down in Northfield. She said power could be out for hours to days depending on the extent of the damage.

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