Sudden storm causes damage in Gravette

Photo by Susan Holland High winds uprooted a tree at the home of Billy Reynolds, 408 5th Avenue S.E., in Gravette. The tree fell into electrical power lines, snapping off part of a nearby pole. This was only one of several trees in town which interfered with electrical lines, causing temporary power outages.
Photo by Susan Holland High winds uprooted a tree at the home of Billy Reynolds, 408 5th Avenue S.E., in Gravette. The tree fell into electrical power lines, snapping off part of a nearby pole. This was only one of several trees in town which interfered with electrical lines, causing temporary power outages.

GRAVETTE -- City crews and private tree removal services were busy last Wednesday afternoon and Thursday clearing debris after a sudden storm came through Gravette about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The storm blew through with little warning. Skies darkened and soon high winds estimated at more than 70 miles per hour began to blow. This was followed with a brief period of heavy rain. The straight-line winds moved rapidly eastward, causing further damage in Bentonville and Rogers.

A few trees were uprooted in town, including one in the Westfield Subdivision behind the Gravette Post Office, and another in the southeast part of town which hit a power line and snapped off the top of a nearby power pole.

Scattered power outages occurred throughout the area and some customers were without electrical service until early Thursday morning.

Steve Fullmer, with Empire District Electric Company, said two crews from Neosho and a service crew from Joplin were in the area to help with restoring power.

Roofers will be busy for a while because shingles were blown off many homes in the area. Bailey Burrow at Shelter Insurance said they received several reports of roof damage.

According to Dodie Evans, who operates the local weather station, only .29 inch of rain fell during the storm.

General News on 07/30/2014