Storm Leaves Trail of Damage
Suspected microburst strikes Belmont CountyBy JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH
Article Photos
BELMONT - Strong winds tore through western Belmont County on Sunday afternoon, lifting roofs from buildings, uprooting trees and scattering limbs and branches across roadways.
The winds drove a storm that brought heavy downpours, hail and dangerous lightning to the Belmont-Morristown area. It struck suddenly at about 2:30 p.m., forcing traffic on Interstate 70 to a crawl. Many drivers pulled off the highway or stopped beneath overpasses, seeking shelter as hail pelted their windshields.
Following the cloudburst, branches littered U.S. 40 and the streets of Morristown; a fairly large tree had toppled across the west end of Main Street, blocking traffic. Homeowners throughout the village soon ventured out to assess the damage and gather debris from their properties. Many lawns in the community were marred with trees that had been uprooted or snapped off, leaving shredded stumps protruding from the ground.
But the worst damage appeared to be closer to Belmont, in areas north of that village.
The Belmont Volunteer Fire Department was called to multiple homes to assist with tree removal and inspect damage. Assistant Chief Bob Mills speculated that a microburst had occurred.
"Nothing is twisted off," he said, pointing out that the straight-line winds like those that passed through the region are not associated with tornadoes.
A farmhouse just north of Barkcamp Road was damaged when it was struck by a falling tree. Mills and other volunteers inspected the site and helped to remove some of the several trees and branches that fell on that property.
From there, the VFD responded to Stenger Road, where the roof had been lifted from a garage. Mills pointed to a dark, jagged line that showed where the structure had been pulled apart. And although the roof had come back down in nearly the right position, Mills said the fractured building was unstable.
Further west on Stenger Road, roofs were torn from a large barn and other outbuildings. Sheets of metal roofing were tossed about a hay field and lodged in trees that remained standing nearby.
Despite the damage, Mills said no storm-related injuries had been reported.
Meanwhile, Tim Wells, spokesman for American Electric Power Ohio, said several customers were without power later Sunday.
"We have 1,303 outages in Ohio and Marshall counties, 1,223 outages in the Freeport area in Harrison County, 206 out in St. Clairsville and 239 out in Flushing," he said.
Wells said power was being restored to customers as quickly as possible.
Department officials said the National Weather Service is expected to investigate the nature of the weather event, today.
Staff Writer Casey Junkins contibuted to this report.
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JaymeJones
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07-23-08 7:55 AM
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I have a good demeaning hand signal I can flash you.
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JaymeJones
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07-21-08 9:17 PM
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You know what, you started this. It's obvious I wasn't even addressing you to begin with. Sounds to me like you've got a wedgie that won't go away. So why don't you go away instead? K*ass.
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JaymeJones
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07-21-08 6:12 PM
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Actually, KT *ASS, I RECOGNIZE SARCASM WHEN IT'S INTELLIGENTLY PUT. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT ADDRESSING YOU. I WAS ADDRESSING SPONGEBOB. BUT IF THE IDIOT UNDERWEAR FIT, PUT THEM ON.
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MeanStreak
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07-21-08 1:46 PM
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Actually Dallas is in Marshall and Ohio Counties. I do believe the post office is at the end of Limestone-Dallas Road which is actually Ohio County. Hence the Ohio Co. Sheriff's office being present
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JaymeJones
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07-21-08 12:59 PM
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Of course it was, you idiot. There were front page stories about it.
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spongebob
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07-21-08 11:11 AM
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WHO CARES, THE POINT WAS DALLAS, WV IS NOT MENTIONED IN THIS PAPER, OR IS IT IS BECAUSE IT IS MARSHALL COUNTY AND THE CRIMINAL DOLIN FAMILY!
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spongebob
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07-21-08 11:11 AM
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WHO CARES, THE POINT WAS DALLAS, WV IS NOT MENTIONED IN THIS PAPER, OR IS IT IS BECAUSE IT IS MARSHALL COUNTY AND THE CRIMINAL DOLIN FAMILY!
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JaymeJones
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07-21-08 10:07 AM
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And not in Dallas Pike. The paper was correct; you are NOT.
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JaymeJones
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07-21-08 10:06 AM
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You have obviously been in your pineapple under the sea too long with Patrick. Dallas Pike and Dallas, WV are two different places. Dallas, WV is a tiny community near the Pennsylvania border in Marshall County. Dallas Pike is where the truckstop is. The postmaster was killed in Dallas, WV, and
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spongebob
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07-21-08 10:01 AM
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HEY WHEELING PAPER, WASN'T THE POSTMISTRESS AT DALLAS PIKE WV-MURDERED FRIDAY. I THOUGHT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS DALLAS TEXAS.
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