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A corn crop in a field near Sandy Point was flattened Ruth 'Sally' Brownley talks with son Lynn Brownley outside her Westmoreland home yesterday while cleaning up from Monday's storm. |
BECAUSE it was his 90th
He just didn't expect things to get started at 4 a.m. He was awakened to an explosive sound from above as winds from a severe thunderstorm toppled several tall, thick pines and sent them crashing through his roof.
"I was in World War II and know what a 40 mm cannon sounds like going off, and that was the sound we woke up to," said Gray. "We got out of bed and found there was water running down into the house."
Gray was one of a handful of folks who local officials say suffered property damage from wind gusts, including a likely microburst, connected to the storm that left piles of large hail and a swath of damage to the line of homes along the Potomac River.
Jeff Beasley, deputy emergency services coordinator for the county, said damage from the storm was mainly located in the upper Sandy Point area, though trees and power lines were down from Hague to Kinsale.
"It seemed like it dipped down, cut out a little swath of damage and then died out," said Beasley.
Rick Curry, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Wakefield, said the office was relying on the local emergency officials' indication of straight-line damage to indicate the destructive winds were likely that
He explained that a microburst is an extreme downward burst of wind that occurs when a storm starts collapsing.
"All of a sudden, you get that cold burst of air," he said. "It's kind of like pouring water out of a bucket. If you happen to be at the spot where it comes down initially, wind bursts can be from 50 to 60 miles an hour."
Ruth "Sally" Brownley said she knew trouble was coming when she heard a horrible roar that made her wonder if her whole house was being ripped apart.
"Then came sounds of the windows shaking and trees
Unsure exactly what to do, she headed for a bathroom where she sought protection from what she figured was
"It only lasted about
Just down the road, next to the Gray's house, Claudine Watkins woke to damage that closely mimicked that
"I didn't hear the train, but heard all that horrible wind and rain and then the slam of something on the house," she said of several trees that made impact.
"One punched a branch through into the shower," said Watkins, who joined others in the relief that no one was injured by the brief storm that ravaged some houses but left others nearby untouched.
Four homes suffered the most extensive damage, though many had their share of downed trees or power lines or other damage from wind.
Called in to help with the aftermath of the storm, Terry Stith of T&T Earthworks of Warsaw said he had a nine-member crew on the site yesterday.
"We're hauling the trees that can be saved to the mill, and grinding up what's left," he said. "From where the debris landed, it seemed like the storm moved in a straight path even to the road."
Gayle Gray and many at Sandy Point had kind words and respect for volunteer firefighters on the spot minutes after the storm.
"They walked up the beach and knocked on our door
Her memory of the storm's start began with a crashing sound she thought was breaking glass.
Coming into the main room of the house where
"Somehow, with arthritic legs, it was scared enough to jump over into the tub," she noted. "It must have been looking for safety."
Sandy Point residents weren't the only ones dealing with storm damage.
In nearby Kinsale, the town's post office had a power line torn down and a large tree toppled in the lane used by mail trucks.
Postmaster Diane Brann said yesterday that the power was being repaired and that some kind souls had cut up the tree and moved it aside.
"I'm just glad this storm hit so early," said Brann. "Otherwise, people would have been on their way to work and more likely to get hurt."
Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com
