Thursday, March 28, 2024

Three homes damaged in Friday's wind storm

Are your trees a hazard

Posted

Ron Hill's home on Commercial street was a total loss after the wind blew over a large tree from his neighbor's yard. 

"I've complained to the PUD about that tree in the past," said Hill. 

On Friday Hill was in his bathroom around 1:30 p.m. when the tree came craashing down. 

"It was a good thing I was in the bathroom because if I had been in the kitchen I wouldn't be here today," said Hill. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt but I had to crawl out of the house" he said.

The tree also appears to have pulled down all of the power lines on Commercial Street knocking out electical power to all of the homes and businesses south of Highway 2. This included the traffic lights at Highway 2 and the Chumstick highway, which resulted in traffic backups for miles.

Hill's home was not the only home to suffer damage from the windstorm. Two homes on Burke street were also damaged by the storm. In that case another tree was uprooted by the powerful winds and damaged both homes.

Earlier this year a tree fell on the porch of another homeowner. That homeowner requested we not use her name. But the point is trees do not live forever. Many of the trees in town may well be at risk to come down with the next windstorm. 

Hill says, "I've asked the PUD to remove the problem tree but they were reluctant because they feared backlash from the tree huggers." 

Whether that opinion is correct or not, the truth is trees do not liver forever. Trees are a renewable resource and it is a serious question about when it is prudent to remove trees that have grown too large or have root systems that are too shallow to sustain them against a powerful windstorm like the one we encountered last Friday.

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