Editing La Plata, Maryland (section)

===Tornadoes===
Despite being well outside the climatologically favored area for significant [[tornado]]es, La Plata has been impacted by several throughout its history. The most recent tornado to strike the town was an [[Enhanced Fujita scale|EF1]] on [[Tornadoes of 2017#February 25|February 25th, 2017]].<ref>Storm Reports ([https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/archive/event.php?date=20170225 February 25, 2017]) | [[Storm Prediction Center]]</ref>

'''1926'''

On November 9, 1926, an unusual [[Fujita scale|F4]] tornado killed 17 people. 14 of them where from the La Plata Elementary School, which was totally destroyed.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Tornado in Southern Maryland, November 3, 1926|author=Thomas R. Brooks|journal=Monthly Weather Review|publisher=American Meteorological Society|pages=462|volume=54, 11|date=November 1926|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1926)54<462:TTISMN>2.0.CO;2|issn=1520-0493|issue=11|bibcode=1926MWRv...54..462B|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gazulis|first=Thomas P.|title=Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. A Chronology and Analysis of Events|year=1993|publisher=Environmental Films|location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont|isbn=1-879362-03-1|page=804}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tornado Downgraded from Most Powerful |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-md.tornado08may08-story.html |publisher=Baltimore Sun |access-date=December 27, 2018 |date=May 8, 2002}}</ref> This is also the deadliest tornado in Maryland's history.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

'''1994'''

On July 27, 1994, the town was struck by two nonfatal tornadoes, occurring just 11 minutes apart. The initial tornado was rated [[Fujita scale|F2]] on the Fujita scale, which is already uncommon for the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Washington Post, tornadoes in La Plata |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/04/30/not-la-platas-first-or-worst/63f19869-bd28-4934-8ab3-356c5dfa6562/}}</ref>

'''2002'''

''{{main|2002 La Plata tornado}}''

On [[Midwest to Mid-Atlantic United States tornado outbreak of 2002|April 28, 2002]], an extremely powerful and fast-moving F4 tornado cut a {{convert|78|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} swath through southeastern Maryland, with areas around La Plata being damaged most severely.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Wilkes |first=Jen Narramore-Nick |date=25 April 2020 |title=La Plata, MD F4 Tornado – April 28, 2002 – Tornado Talk |url=https://www.tornadotalk.com/la-plata-md-f4-tornado-april-28-2002/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> This tornado caused five deaths and at least $115 million in damages.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Puzzilla |first1=Anthony G. |title=Hope Triumphs over Chaos: The la Plata Tornado of April 28, 2002 |date=2 April 2022 |publisher=Anthony Puzzilla |isbn=978-1734550443}}</ref>

Local officials credited federal- and state-assisted new construction efforts with helping them to remodel the downtown area following the tornado,<ref name="umd-newsline">{{cite web| url=http://www.newsline.umd.edu/politics/laplata/page5.htm| title=Rebuilding La Plata after the storm| year=2002| publisher=University of Maryland College of Journalism| access-date=June 30, 2009}}</ref> as several new public buildings replaced some of those damaged there. A new La Plata Town Hall, for example, became Southern Maryland's first [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]]-certified building,<ref>{{cite news
   |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/15/AR2007081500046.html
   |title=La Plata Town Hall Is First 'Green' Building in S.Md.
   |last=Rucker
   |first=Philip
   |newspaper=The Washington Post
   |date=August 16, 2007
|page=SM01
   |access-date=May 2, 2008
}}</ref> and an old building considered historic by local residents, which housed a [[CVS Pharmacy]] store at the time of the tornado, was rebuilt in a new location after the storm. In the days after the tornado, help was provided by twenty-seven different jurisdictions, as well as the nearby Amish community in St. Mary's County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.townoflaplata.org/vertical/Sites/%7BC5944482-8A4A-48D0-B56C-BE347B799FF3%7D/uploads/AFTER_THE_STORM_PASSED_BY.pdf|title=After the Storm Passed By|last=Eckman|first=William|website=Town of La Plata}}</ref>