Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Damage was done to shelters and fencing at Brown's Pump and Septic on Tuesday, June 28 by a straight-line wind reaching more than 70 miles per hour. The incident differed from a tornado in that the winds had no rotation.
Below, Frenchman Valley Coop property received similar damage to that shown above.
The City of Kimball, Kimball Police Department and the Kimball County Sheriff's Office as well as local Emergency Management were busy following the June 28 storm that caused severe damage to several properties and businesses on South Highway 71.
The event, seen firsthand by Kimball County Sheriff and Emergency Management Coordinator Harry Gillway, was not a tornado, as there was no rotation to the wind.
"I was at the top of hill on Chestnut St., just about in front of the Jehovah Witness Hall when the wind struck. I was there first hand and saw it was not a tornado. I reported it as it struck to the National Weather Service in Cheyenne at 5:41PM. They told me it was most likely straight line wind or a micro burst," Gillway said. "Jerry Brown said told me he watched the roof of his building come off while he was sitting in his truck (in the building) and fly in a straight line over the Shopko. With a tornado there would be twisting of debris and it wouldn't normally land in a straight line."
Gillway estimates that the wind reached more than 70 miles per hour and he added that there was clearly lifting in the storm.
"The peak wind gust at the airport at that time, according to the National Weather Service, was 47 miles per hour," he added. "Clearly it was much greater than that but no rotation was detected by radar, eyewitness or ground patterns. Sudden ground burst of wind can happen with mature and dissipating severe thunderstorms."
Gillway was joined by Deputy Sheriff Brandon Loy, who also serves as the Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, in tracking the storm, by radar, when it began near Burns, Wyo.
"I experienced nickel size hail near Roach's Corner at 5:20 p.m. and reported it directly to the National Weather Service. They informed me that the storm should be watched closely due to some mid-level rotation seen on radar about two miles north of Kimball though they didn't think it warranted a tornado warning, we both concluded to issue a severe thunderstorm warning, that was actually issued at 5:25 p.m.," Gillway said. "Between Brandon and I we tracked the storm closely and did storm assessments. We concluded two shed type storage buildings destroyed, two downed trees and numerous branches down as well as a power line downed. There were no reports of residential damage and none noticeably seen. With that said, I'm sure there may have been damage that wasn't reported to us. Thank God we didn't have any injuries from flying debris."
Though no City of Kimball property was damaged, other than a few lost tree limbs at city parks, City Administrator Daniel Ortiz, City employees remained busy with clean-up efforts.
In addition to picking up debris on roadways, mostly tree branches and limbs, Ortiz said, the Electric Department was called out to secure a downed power line that services Frenchman Valley Co-op's fuel tanks and truck parking.
"A shed on FVC's truck lot was severely damaged and parts of it appear to have got caught on a utility pole on the FVC's lot. Our best guess is that the metal siding and frame appear to have acted as a sail, wrapping around the pole until it snapped from the strain," Ortiz said. "Once the electric service was disconnected, the City's electric line crew, power plant operator, and members or the water and street department placed barricades around the debris and damaged shed. FVC has demolished what remained of the shed and temporary electric service was restored to the east section of FVC's property. The west side of the property was not affected except fuel pumps that were not operational."
Residents are reminded to stay clear of affected areas until it is deemed safe.
"This is for residents' safety as well as, the safety of the police officers, firefighters, and city crews working the incident," Ortiz said.
During these latest events, parts of Oak Street were closed while crews worked to clear debris and disconnect service to a live power line lying in the street.
"While no one was hurt, no further damage occurred and our police department quickly blocked the street to vehicle traffic, it serves as a reminder of the dangers such incidents pose," Ortiz said. "Kimball's police and City crews have to deal with keeping themselves, the affected area and the public safe and secure during such incidents."