Neighbors, first responders and utility workers collaborated to clean up extensive storm debris and block traffic to offer protection from downed power lines on Sunday, July 14.
Cambridge City received the most visible damage from the storm just before 2:30 p.m. Town officials quickly urged residents and visitors to stay off roads so cleanup could begin. Roads generally were passable Monday.
Jeff Gabbard, Cambridge City Volunteer Fire Department chief, said no injuries were reported. The damage was consistent with straight-line winds, Gabbard said, rather than a tornado. No rotation was indicated by the damage or had been seen on weather radar.
Immediately afterward, Cambridge City police and fire departments began working closely with Wayne County Emergency Management Agency, which had personnel on scene, in assessing the damage. Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police also assisted.
Matthew Cain, EMA director, said responders checked for damage in a grid pattern.
Multiple large trees were uprooted or had large limbs ripped off in Creitz Park. Residents throughout town began cleaning up downed trees and limbs before the rain stopped Sunday.
The wide swath of damage appeared to traverse diagonally across Cambridge City from northwest to southeast, Gabbard said. Uprooted trees in the park and at residences pointed to the southeast.
Trees toppled onto a few houses as well and power lines can be seen sprawled across streets. Gabbard said he had received one report of the winds lifting a roof, but other structure damage generally occurred because of falling trees and limbs.
Town officials announced Monday they had opened Riverside Cemetery’s gates at 708 S. Cambridge Road so residents could dispose of tree branches that are 4 inches in diameter or less. Anything larger should be stacked neatly near the edge of the road for those driving around picking up wood for their homes.
Some businesses also sustained damage. Dougherty Orchards announced many apples had fallen, and it lost the old willow tree in the petting farm area.
Hundreds of customers lost power throughout Wayne County and surrounding areas, such as Centerville and Richmond. Outages especially impacted most of Hagerstown, nearly 300 customers south of Milton and about 55 in Cambridge City.
Hagerstown Police said a few areas didn’t get power restored until Monday morning because residents hadn’t called in their location to town hall’s after-hours service.
Cain said the EMA Facebook page includes a link for residents to report damage. Reports will help National Weather Service with its storm investigation.