Published: February 08, 2008 11:58 am      

Damaging Downburst

Heavy winds blast area near Oakland Sang Run Road

MCHENRY - More than two miles of land on and near Oakland Sang Run Road were damaged in what is being called "a downburst" during a Wednesday night storm.

"We've had discussions with the (National) Weather Service and they are not convinced it was a tornado," Brad Frantz, Garrett County director of emergency management, said. "It could have been a very small cell that had some circular motion, but it doesn't appear to be that. The trees are knocked down in the same direction. This looks like more of a high wind."

Frantz said that there was no sign of major damage to the nearby homes; however, a Friendsville woman was injured when trees fell on her vehicle as she was traveling on Oakland Sang Run Road.

Following the 7 p.m. accident that led to Ashley Savage, 27, being transported to Garrett Memorial Hospital, Garrett County Roads workers began attempting to clear the roadway to make the area safe for travel. As of early Thursday afternoon, workers were still clearing the area of debris. The road did have one lane open.

According to Allen Fike, foreman with Garrett County Roads, they hoped to have the road cleared by the end of Thursday or by this morning.

Todd Meyers, spokesman for Allegheny Power, said that around 11 p.m. Wednesday, one pole was downed as were six spans of power line in the area of the downburst. By Thursday afternoon, those customers had power again. However, he said that nearby Youghiogheny Mountain Club was affected by the storm as well, and that it could be this morning before 25 customers there have electricity.

Richard Kane, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Pittsburgh office, said that it appears to have been a downburst of wind during the storm.

Kane said that the damage seems to be located in one spot and that trees were broken in the same direction and uprooted rather than in a circular fashion.

"The radar suggested it could have been a touch down," Kane said, "but none of the evidence really justified that. It was more damage from winds than a quick touch down."

Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.