Wind downs trees, damages rooftops

Last Wednesday’s severe windstorm raised havoc from one end of town to another. Those of us watching from the safety of our downtown businesses saw hordes of tumbleweeds blowing along First Avenue, with some then swirling down intersecting streets as suction created small whirlwinds off to the side. Garbage cans, their lids and all manner of other debris were swept into other people’s yards, Crab Creek and the surrounding countryside.

Two homes on Fourth Avenue lost pine trees to the storm. At the home of Ted and Jan Noble, the trees crashed all the way to the ground across the sidewalk in their front yard. At the home of James and Marlee Lane, another tall pine was uprooted and came to rest against their house. There appeared to be little damage to the home, but the tree was being cut up into smaller pieces the last time we had an opportunity to drive by.

The Odessa Horseshoe Club has two buildings near its pits at Finney Field. It lost one of its building during the storm, as it lifted up, sailed into a neighboring yard and crashed down on its top. The other building was knocked over onto its side but remained on its foundation and was able to be placed upright again by club members.

The Record’s editors and publishers, Ed and Terrie Crosby, were also hit hard at their home on east Dobson Road, where the wind lifted up the metal roof panels and sent many of them sailing across the neighborhood. Others remained attached but bent up at right angles when the wind was blowing its hardest. Fortunately for them, they said, their homeowners’ insurance policy will cover most of the cost of a new roof.

Beyond the incidents mentioned, there appeared to be no major damage done.