Storm beats up Weston County

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Weston County received several bumps and bruises on Friday, July 9, during a storm that produced large hail, high winds and lots of rain. 
According to Gilbert Nelson, Weston County’s emergency management coordinator, there were widespread reports of large hail and winds damaging homes, trees and power lines across the county. 
The storm brewed to the east, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a storm warning for strong winds and large hail arriving at 6:50 p.m., when the storm was southeast of Moorcroft. The warning continued at 7:25 p.m. as the storm reached Newcastle, said Susan Sanders, a warning coordination meteorologist. 
As it rolled through, she said, the storm dropped hail up to an inch in diameter with wind gusts of 62 mph. 
The aftermath of the storm is varied but devastating for some. Emily Hartinger’s family, who lives between Osage and Newcastle, shared photos of their home, two sides of which were destroyed by the hail. 
“It destroyed the siding, the whole west and north side; there were broken windows, dented vehicles,” she said. “And it flattened the alfalfa fields. That is devastating. We have to make a new plan.” 
“We run our operation on faith that God has a plan somehow,” she continued. 
The financial hit could be big, though she said she is thankful that the home and vehicles are covered by insurance and none of her family were injured during the storm. 
Reports of damage extended into Newcastle. Police Chief Sam Keller said that several calls were placed to dispatch following the event. 
“There was damage to several trees in the cemetery, as well as limbs of various sizes down in most of the neighborhoods,” he said. “I have also been told by several citizens that their residences received damage from limbs and hail.” 
According to Weston County fire warden Daniel Tysdal, the Weston County Fire Protection District got up close and personal with the storm while responding to a fire on the Lynch Road. 
“As we passed through the hail storm that impacted Newcastle and the surrounding area a passenger side window was shattered and we also lost a front windshield on another truck along with normal hail damage to several others, but no injuries were sustained and we were able to continue to respond to every incident that night,” he said. 
Sanders said the storm also dumped approximately 0.43 inches of rain in its path, measured the morning of July 10. To date, Newcastle has received 2.33 inches of rain, with the highest daily total coming on July 6 when 1.52 inches of rain fell on the city. 
The moral of the story, Hartinger said, is to pay attention to the storm warnings. 
“I always paid attention before, moved the vehicles and everything, then nothing would happen,” she said. “This time I ignored them and this is what happened.”