Pocono News Section

Falling Tree Downs Power Lines

Falling Tree Downs Power Lines - Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 5:30PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008 @ 05:30pm EST
Williamsport, Lycoming County-

A falling tree took down some power lines and caused quite a scare in Williamsport Tuesday afternoon.

Neighbors say the massive tree was hundreds of years old. Fire officials believe heavy winds played a big role in bringing it down.

The huge tree fell across Louisa Street. It left behind a path of destruction the length of a city block.

Margaret Redka has owned the property where the tree stood for 30 years.

She explained, “My daughter and I, and my grandson, were getting ready to head back down to Harrisburg to take them home, and heard what sounded like ice coming off the roof.”

But when Redka went out to investigate, she saw her tree, and the damage it had done, knocking out power sporadically through the area.

She noted, “My first reaction was, ‘That’s supposed to be a very healthy tree.’ The tree has been there for over 200 years.”

Thankfully, no one was outside when the tree crashed down.

Brian Shuler bought the house the tree landed on back in September. He was inside with his four young children when he heard the noise.

Shuler described it as, “A low tone rumble that basically sounded like the roof was coming down startled us all. My children were crying. I went upstairs, pulled them down here, got them outside.”

Brian says he had no idea what happened until he walked out front and saw it for himself.

He added, “I was a bit shaken but also disappointed because it did some damage to the home but nobody’s hurt. None of my family, none of my neighbors are hurt, so that’s the good thing.”

The accident knocked out power to Williamsport Hospital for just about fifteen minutes. Officials said power would be restored to all the homes in the area by about 4pm.

No word yet on when the cleanup will be finished or when that section of Louisa Street will be cleared to reopen.