Trees down, property damaged during early morning storms

INTERLACHEN – Numerous West Putnam County residents are spending the weekend cleaning up after a tornado and other serious storms were reported in the area before dawn Saturday morning.

Interlachen residents reported the severe weather occurring during the 4 a.m. hour, with many people sustaining damage to homes, other structures and vehicles. Many Putnam County residents reported receiving cellphone alerts the morning of the storms.

Ronda Hazelton, who lives on Shirley Street in Interlachen, said she and her family heard severe weather and loud noises shortly after 4:30 a.m. They knew the storm was severe, but it wasn't until they stepped outside that they discovered the extent of the damage. 

"We woke up a little bit after it happened," she said. "We didn't see the trees until we came outside."

The trees, one of them an oak tree she and others in the home estimated to be about 80 feet, had snapped close to the base and fell onto their yard, across the unpaved road and into the woods adjacent to their house. 

Despite the tree crushing the family's fence and shattering in their yard, Hazelton and the four people who were in the home counted their blessings, saying things could have been much worse. 

"If (the bigger tree) would have went that way, it would have taken down the house," Hazelton said, indicating the tree fell 180 degrees in the opposite direction of their home. "This is a $5,000 fence. There's a baby coming into the family, and we have to get this fence back up."

Hazelton, who is pregnant, and five others had been cleaning up their property since about 6 a.m. Saturday. At 4:30 p.m., they were still there.

Benny Morgan, who was assisting in the cleanup, said he originally thought Saturday morning's event was only a severe storm. But when got a glimpse of the weather and felt the air leaving him, he was certain they were experiencing a tornado. 

"It was like a suction," Morgan said. "You couldn't hardly breathe. It sucked up all the air."

James Tappan, who lives on Usina Avenue in Interlachen, counted himself fortunate. Some of his property was damaged during the storms, but Tappan said the bigger items, like his home and vehicle, were unscathed.

The same could not be said for his neighbors, some of whom had missing porches and compromised roofs, Tappan said. 

"Some minor (things at my house are) gone, like the fence, trampoline and shed are gone, but the car and house are OK," he said. "I got lucky. ... My neighbors' houses were pretty messed up."

The Daily News will have more information about the storms in the coming days.