Storm hammers Howardwick

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Howardwick residents were battered by high winds Saturday evening, August 9, resulting in thousands of dollars in property damage.

No human injuries have been reported. Trees in the community took the biggest toll with some limbs and trunks of approximately ten-inch diameters being snapped, although many were already weakened due to persistent drought and disease.

Howardwick Fire Chief Joe Hall said he estimated the Clarendon Country Club golf course alone sustained $8,000 to $10,000 in damage to trees.

The storm hit about 6:30 p.m. and knocked out power with winds reaching sustained speeds of more than 75 miles per hour, and Hall said a microburst may have accompanied the storm. City officials said much of the damage was along Haskell Street between Columbia and Pampa streets.

Two mobile homes were destroyed near Haskell and Columbia, and the residence of Billy and Lois Woods suffered heavy damage at the corner Haskell and Pampa. A the couple’s wood structure carport was collapsed onto their vehicles, and their two-car carport that covered their boat and was anchored in concrete was ripped from its location and came to rest in a nearby field about a quarter of a mile away. Mayor Mike Rowland said he found a washtub-sized piece of concrete from that carport in his field.

The Woods also lost their covered porch, which was folded back over onto their roof, causing significant damage to their home.

Heavy damage also struck on Frederick Street near Columbia where the roof was torn off the home of Melodean Mitchell, causing damage to a nearby carport. Some of the debris was dropped on a nearby RV while the remainder was scattered several yards from the property.

Hall was in a fire truck near City Hall and watch the storm peel the roof up on the old Canteen store and saw the sign at the Howardwick Baptist Church blow away.

“I couldn’t see the front of my fire truck for about five minutes” due to the rain, Hall said.

The storm also downed tree limbs and twisted swings at the city park

“I’m very grateful no one was hurt,” Hall said. “And I’m proud of the way our firefighters handled their jobs.”

Hall thanked the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, and the Associated Ambulance Authority for their assistance during and following the storm. He also said his department is in need of donations, and more information can be obtained at City Hall.

Officials also urge citizens to be wary when hiring contractors to clean up storm damage. Hall says property owners need to make sure their contractors are insured, and Enterprise columnist Bob Watson has more advice on this subject in this week’s issue.