Buildings were being evacuated in the area and an urban search-and-rescue team was dispatched to look for anyone potentially trapped in the wreckage.
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The National Weather Service confirmed during a press conference that a tornado touched down in Montebello around 11:20 a.m. and sent out an official statement at 5 p.m.
NWS officials say the EF1 tornado had a nearly half-mile-long damage path that was 50 yards wide.
Montebello fire officials say only one minor injury has been reported as a result of the tornado activity.
Inspectors checked 17 buildings in the area, and 11 of them have been red-tagged due to the damage suffered in the storm, according to the fire department.
Gas and electric companies were called to the scene because of damage to utility lines.
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Landspout rips off the roofs of buildings in Montebello, injures 1 person
One injury was reported but the search through the wreckage continues.
Large metal chunks from the building were tossed around onto the parking lot, smashing multiple vehicles.
The damage appeared to be centered around the building of the Royal Paper Box Company.
Thunderstorms were also reported in the area.
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Video taken by a witness shows debris from one building spinning through the air.
Also Wednesday, another possible tornado struck a mobile home park in Carpinteria, damaging more than two dozen homes. No serious injuries were reported.