Freak Windstorm Causes Damage Throughout Region
by Bruce Whitman
A freak windstorm, described by one Cameron County official as “brief but devastating,” swept through the region Friday evening.
What has been described by weather authorities as a micro burst with very high straight line winds, hopped and skipped across portions of Cameron, Elk and McKean counties just before 6 p.m.
“The storm lasted just a few minutes, but caused a lot of problems with downed trees closing roads and knocking out power and communications,” said Kevin Johnson, Cameron County’s Director of Emergency Management.
Johnson, Assistant Director Laura Narby and others immediately opened an Emergency Command Center to coordinate reports of damage.
“Elk County 911 was jammed with calls,” said Johnson. “We began operations to handle some of that load and coordinate our county’s first responders.