WIND/STORM DAMAGE

[BreathalyzeMe]

I don't know how many ppl the wind storm affected last night. Maybe some of you can give some information. I thought it was a spoof, after reading the spoof page, but it is true, the Maslowskis DO have 2 trees against their house, the gas line DID come out of the ground, they have no electric. The gas co. responded right away last night and got the line capped. They told AEP there was a live wire down, AEP has shown today, and from what Susan has said, AEP worker says yes it is a live wire, and he cannot leave it. But can't do anything until the trees are removed. She is calling to get the trees removed, they don't know if there is damage to the house yet, but there is no broken windows. A friend has loaned them a generator to keep the freezer and fridge going. There are several on Dry Creek without power. There is quite a bit of damage as soon as you go through the tunnel. Trees uprooted. Things scattered from who knows where.
If anyone has any further information about what/where in town damage has occurred, if you are able please post it!! THANKS EVERYONE!

[Lost Hiker]

Crews are busy all over town. There was a tree across 60 last night. Was this damage caused by high winds alone or a mini-tornado? The sky was lit like the 4th of July with transformers blowing last night.

[THELONERANGER]

Lost another of the white pines at Morris Memorial. It had been cut out of the road when I came in at 10 P. Looked like another tree had come down on James River Turnpike, just below MM.

[TheresaHPIR]

Hope everyone is safe and sound! Winfield got hit pretty hard, too. Lots of interesting debris floating around for awhile! I was actually on the road (stupidly) for part of the storm, and in Charleston when it was blowing through this area. Kanawha City to St. Albans was having power issues, but if Winfield did on a large scale, it came back on quickly. As a town we did lose plenty of trees and a billboard, hehe. My neighbor has some roof damage, and a trailer down the road seems to have lost most of its under pinning. I came home to someone's patio furniture in my driveway.

And...I've also got my nephew for a few more days while they move some downed trees and fix some power lines at my sis's house. Earlier that day at TGI Friday's our waiter had said Dunbar had a tornado watch...and last night someone told me that yeah, it WAS confirmed that a tornado touched down in that area. Not sure if we had one in Winfield, but the pattern of damage certainly looks like its possible.
_________________
Theresa Racer
Research Manager, HPIR
www.huntingtonparanormal.com

Owner, Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State
http://www.freewebs.com/paratheresa

[Susan Maslowski]

Yes, I'd agree, the winds had to be hurricane force. There will be an article about the storm damage in the up-coming Cabell Standard. Two fir trees were up-rooted and landed on our roof. In the process, they took out the gas and electric lines. I wasn't sure what type of danger I was in when I heard the hissing sound and smelled natural gas...plus there was a hot power line on the ground. I ran to a neighbor's 2 doors away and called 9-1-1 from her porch. The gas company was the first to arrive and cap the line at the road.

I've never been involved in an emergency situation like that, but I have a lot of people to commend and thank from the 9-1-1 dispatcher who was patient as I tried to yell directions into a TRACK phone while the rain was still pounding. The lady at AEP realized the emergency with the line and cautioned me to expect more bad weather coming this way. AEP did not get here until late yesterday morning and I worried that a person or animal would get injured, because people were stopping to look at the damage. Fortunately, nothing happened. When the AEP rep finally came and realized we had a hot wire down, he had to stay here for hours waiting on a crew, because it is wiser and cheaper to have a man stay here and watch the wire than to be faced with a lawsuit from someone getting injured. He was very nice as were the Milton AEP crews who attached the line. The gas company ran a temporary line for us so we'd have heat. Again, all of the workers were great, and I know they have to be exhausted.

A tree firm came this morning and lifted the trees from the house with a spydercrane. That crew was so skilled, and I thank the member of this board who recommended them. The only structural damage that was done was a small 1-inch tear in a shingle, so we were very lucky.

I hadn't been out and about to see any of the other damage until today. I do think there must have been something like a tornado rip through Dry Creek and down James River Tpk. The damage at Morris Memorial is unbelievable. There are trees and fences down.

To Steph and Cheryl, thanks for your offers of assistance and a bed if we needed it. To my neighbor, Pauline, a big thanks for the hearty breakfast yesterday. Thanks to Calvin for supplying a generator to save the items in our refrigerator and freezer. To all others who are too numerous to mention, thanks for your offers of help. We appreciate it very much.

[Cheryl Jude]

TYVM. but it isn't necessary, I KNOW YOU WOULD DO THE SAME
The welcome mat is always out, if you need a place to stay, shower, eat, whatever you need! (You missed your chance of seeing the house cleaned ) Just glad you are ok, that things are getting in order for you. Glad things are getting back to "normal", lol, if anything ever gets back to normal in Milton!
Steph, Leora Shelton and her husband Calvin, your neighbor Pauline are GOOD PPL!
Glad the tree service worked out, looks like they knew just what to do.
Most of all just glad everyone is ok.
There did seem to be a strange path the storm took, living on a street right next to Dry Creek, we had no significant damage, it was like it moved out of Dry Creek (leaving quite a bit of damage) and went right up Mud River. I haven't been in town, but I did hear there was some damage there in places. Putnam Co., Charleston, also hit pretty hard. If it wasn't a tornado, there had to be some kind of rotation like a tornado to do the damage it did, and how it moved through the area.

Lone Ranger, TY for your reports!
Theresa-glad you are ok, after being out in the storm

Just glad you and Dr. Bob and everyone else are ok. And never hesitate to contact us, if you need something!!

[dlrl2001]

The storm hit the ridge pretty hard also lots of folks without power. After reading the post on hear, this is the Milton I remember and want to see again where friends care about each other and are there for each other when needed. It does a soul good when you know you have friends like these.

[PAM]

I definately think we had a tornado type touchdown. I had two trees
uprooted Wed nite also and they are in direct line with each other.
One was at the base of my driveway and the other was right outside my kitchen window. The one outside the window was huge and split into two pieces.
The largest piece demolished my rock/firepit garden and the other smaller section landed on our garage and against our house. My husband has been cutting the wood and debris for two days and damage has been limited to a few bent shingles.

I'm just thankful it didn't fall toward my kitchen.

I appreciate the 911 response and the fire department who came out. They couldn't do anything but it was a comfort that they responded so quickly.

[PAM]

P.S. Susan, glad you and your family are safe also. I didn't loose power or gas, but I know somewhat what the "damaged" feeling is. I'm just thankful no one was hurt.

[Susan Maslowski]

PAM, I'm glad to know you and your husband are OK, too. As of last night, 1,200 homes are still w/o power in Cabell Co. There is one area of Milton that is still w/o power. I checked on one family yesterday. They have a wood stove so they are warm, however, they still hadn't recovered from the 5 days w/o power during the ice storm. AEP promises to have power restored by tomorrow. Several of the homes in that area are all electric, which means the people have no way of cooking, heating or taking a warm shower. This is when some of the churches should open their doors and offer meals and a place to bathe and sleep, if necessary. We are not from this area originally, so we do not have family nearby. I cannot express my gratitude enough for the kindnesses of neighbors and friends...and others whom we do not know. Please, if you know people who are still without power, contact them and see if they need anything. Even a warm cup of coffee means a lot.

[Mark Hallburn]

I am glad to know that no one was badly hurt. Here in Putnam County, about 3,000 customers lost power, and there was some damage to roofs, signs, etc.

http://www.putnamlive.com/PowerfulWindsWreakHavoc.html
_________________
News for Putnam County
www.PutnamLIVE.com

[dlrl2001]

Susan, where is the power still out in Milton I want to check and see if there is anyone I may know and can offer some help or something they may need.

[Susan Maslowski]

dlrl...check your PM's. I know folks will appreciate your concern.

[BreathalyzeMe]

Forgive my manners Mark, Welcome to the board!!!!

I wonder if power has been restored to most ppl? Glad no one (that we know of) was injured, and dl, you are right, this is what ppl should be doing for each other, HELPING!

Unless I missed it, I sure didn't see Boss worrying about "HER town. Most of the news reports were from Huntington, Putnam, Charleston, and KY. Of course, it should not surprise any of us, storm damage isn't Good Press!


Guess she is busy working on her "community meeting speech" UGH. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!

[PAM]

Susan, I wasn't home when I posted my last post, I was out of town working and just got home tonight. I saw the damage Thursday morning and had to leave my husband to clean the mess. If there is anyone who needs anything please let me know.