Putnam storm damage was caused by micro-burst

The strong storm that knocked down large trees, destroyed two mobile homes and injured two residents in Putnam County Wednesday was a micro-burst.   

The National Weather Service says the damage in the Marina Drive area of Teays Valley is consistent with sinking air in a thunderstorm. The damage was confined to an area about 150 yards wide by a third of a mile long. Winds reached about 80 mph.

Putnam County Director of the Office of Emergency Management Frank Chapman says the storm serves as a reminder to residents to take all storms seriously.

“Whether it’s a tornado or high winds or a micro-burst or whatever–it can happen about any given time in a storm,” Chapman said.

The Wednesday afternoon storm knocked down several large trees that fell into the mobile homes.

“Take that into consideration when you are taking shelter in your home,” Chapman said. “If there is a large tree beside it or in the area that could possibly fall they need to take shelter in an area that wouldn’t be obstructed by that tree if it decided to fall,” Chapman said.

Putnam County OEM took damage assessment of the area and turned the information over to the state office. Chapman says there wasn’t enough damage to seek federal assistance.