High winds cause widespread damage

Thursday, January 31, 2008
The interior wall of this home was pierced by a broken board that flew through the air during Tuesday night's storm.

Putnam County sustained varied damage from high winds Tuesday evening.

Emergency management spokesperson Chris Edwards reported that 81-mph wind gusts were measured near the National Guard Armory in Greencastle. At the courthouse square, a gust of 78 mph was recorded.

Only one possible funnel cloud was located near Fillmore, identified by weather radar, but never sited.

Edwards said the possible tornado was located two miles west of Coatesville moving east. There was no evidence of tornado-related damage, he said.

"If it was a funnel cloud, it didn't reach the ground," Edwards said.

The weather warning sirens sounded at Fillmore to warn residents of the possible funnel cloud.

Meanwhile, many in the Greencastle area experienced storm-related damage. A pole barn on West Walnut Street near the DePauw Nature Park lost part of its roof, as did a modular home in the area. A tree crushed a Ford F150 outside a home on West Walnut Street. A window at Neal Tire was shattered and business signs were damaged along Jackson Street. Debris was also scattered around town.

The high winds also caused sporadic power outages. Duke Energy has reported that 63,000 customers were effected by Tuesday's sever weather, including approximately 2,000 residents in Greencastle.

Duke spokesperson Angeline Protogere reported that most of the outages had been caused by high wind and fallen tree limbs, but that Duke Energy crews worked through the night and extra contractors were brought in to repair the damage. According to Protogere, by 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, almost all Greencastle customers experiencing storm related outages had their power resorted.

If any customer is still experiencing a power outage that they have not already reported, Protogere asks that they contact Duke Energy immediately at 1-800-343-3525.

Edwards said that to better prepare the public for severe weather, a sky watcher class will be arraigned for the spring. That class will be announced when details are firm.

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