High Winds Topple 18-Wheeler, Cause Extensive Damage To Farm, Barns

February 21, 2014

Early morning storms left damage south of Walnut Hill early Friday morning, including an estimated $100,000 in damage to one local farm.

At a home and surrounding farm at the end of Mason Road just off Highway 97, there was extensive damage to multiple metal barns, storage sheds and farm equipment. Roofs were ripped from barns, barn doors were ripped open, farm equipment was tossed about and tractors were damaged by debris. The roof was lifted from a cottage, and large oak trees were splintered and uprooted.

Several items that did not belong to the farm were in a pasture, including a baby mattress and a Salter’s Lake Road street sign. The origin of the street sign was not immediately known….there did not appear to be any missing signs on Salter’s Lake Road near Century this morning, and there was no storm damage in that area.

For more photos, click here.

An 18-wheeler parked at the intersection of Highway 97 and Tungoil road was flipped onto its side and into a field. Power lines in the area were twisted around power poles and downed across the highway. Street signs were knocked over, and several pine trees in the area were snapped off several feet into the air.

At least three other homes between Tungoil and Mason Roads had damage…including downed trees and damaged outdoor sheds.

The exact time the damage occurred was not known; however a tornado warning was issued for the area. At 2:57 a.m. National Weather Service Doppler Radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado about 10 miles northwest of Molino…very near the Highway 97 and Tungoil Road area. But officials said late Friday afternoon that the damage appeared to be from powerful straight-line winds and possibly a microburst.

Hundreds of EREC and Gulf Power customers lost power in the storm. In the largest outage, Gulf Power reported about 420 customers along and near Highway 97 from Gibson Road south across Highway 29 without power.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “High Winds Topple 18-Wheeler, Cause Extensive Damage To Farm, Barns”

  1. Deborah on February 21st, 2014 5:09 pm

    I lived in Niles, Ohio when the F5 tornado ripped through town on May 31, 1985, I lived in a mobile home just 1/4 mile from where the tornado killed several people in the plaza near Top O’ the Strip roller rink that was also demolished. Thankful that none of yall had to experience anything like that last night. sw Pensacola, near the base, is just fine. We were blessed.

  2. Nikki & Roy Faktor on February 21st, 2014 1:52 pm

    Glad to hear James, Ms Ellen and Bill are all okay!!!!

  3. bill l on February 21st, 2014 12:14 pm

    property can be replaced and the mess can be cleaned up so thankful no one was hurt

  4. Puddin on February 21st, 2014 10:28 am

    wow, we had heavy winds and rain. LOTS of lightning. But other than a bunch of limbs in the yard its not too bad here. (about ten miles west) Is everyone over there alright? There are a lot of mobile homes on that road.

  5. Duke of Wawbeek on February 21st, 2014 10:03 am

    A night to remember.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News