Storm hits Clayton County
Storm flips semi This semi truck was flipped on its side by strong winds that accompanied a thunderstorm that passed through Clayton County on Monday morning, June 22. The driver reported that he had pulled onto the shoulder of Highway 52 just north of Millville to ride out the storm when it lifted the vehicle into the air and flipped it on its side.The driver was taken to Guttenberg Municipal Hospital and treated for what was believed to be minor injuries. More storm photos appear inside and on The Guttenberg Press Facebook page. (Press photo by Austin Greve)
By Pat McTaggart
Freelance Journalist
A severe thunderstorm accompanied by high winds roared across Clayton County Monday morning, June 22. The Clayton County Dispatch Office reported its first call at 7:49 a.m. indicating flash flooding between Effigy Mounds and Marquette. By 8:09 a.m. weather spotters were out in the northern portion of the county.
As the storm worked its way to the south, reports of wind damage began to come in to the office. The first damage report came at 8:12 a.m. with trees down on Highway 76 north of Marquette. Between 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. the Sheriff’s department received 31 calls.
The main damage occurred between Guttenberg and Garber and in the area south of Guttenberg, with trees blocking roads and Highway 52, which was closed for a time while the trees were removed. Near Millville, a semi was blown over by the high winds and outbuildings and a barn were destroyed on a farm near Millville, killing several livestock. Near Garber, an Amish store was destroyed, but no injuries were reported.
Power lines were downed throughout the county, and several lines were still down as of noon Monday. In Guttenberg, power was restored at approximately 1:30 p.m. The storm also produced quarter sized hail.
By noon Monday, most of the county volunteer fire departments were working on clearing the damage, which mostly consisted of downed trees. “There wasn’t any evidence of rotation,” Clayton County Emergency Management Director Joel Biggs said. “These were basically strong straight line winds.”
Work on clearing the damage was still ongoing Monday afternoon.
