Published: June 22, 2009 10:28 am      

Selective damage

Winds devastate section of Fifth Street Road

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

A brief but intense storm passed over Corbin at about 7 p.m. Saturday, ripping century-old trees from the ground in the area around Corbin Primary School.

Wind damage appeared isolated to an area along Black Diamond and Fifth Street Roads. 

“It rained so hard and the wind started blowing... and that’s when we started hearing the booms,” said Bridget White. “We heard probably three claps of thunder before it hit.”

Randy Worley, who lives at the corner of Black Diamond and Fifth Street roads, said “it was just straight line winds, but it’s the worst I’ve seen at my house.”

Worley lost several large trees on his property during the storm, including two that he said were at least 100 years old. 

“I knew it was really bad when one of my adirondack deck chairs was actually bouncing across my yard,” he said. 

Members at Steele’s Chapel Church came out with chain saws Saturday evening to help fellow church goer Bill Jones clear a large tree that had fallen and blocked his driveway. 

Bill Smith was among those who were with tree limbs. He said he lives less than two miles away, had no damage in his neighborhood.

No homes appeared to be damaged by the fallen trees.