Violent Storms Kill 4, Close State Fair

Violent thunderstorms and possible tornadoes bent flagpoles and blew out windows. Four people were killed: two were hit by debris at the New York State Fair in Syracuse, one man died when a tree fell at a park in the Bronx and a boater fell overboard and drown in New Jersey. At least seven people were injured at the fair, and 20 buildings were severely damaged at Syracuse University, leaving about 140 students homeless. Power was knocked out to more than 400,000 homes from Niagara Falls to Long Island and into New Jersey. New York Gov. George Pataki declared a disaster emergency for nine counties. The National Weather Service was trying to determine if a tornado struck the fair, which was canceled.