Storm Line packing strong winds does damage in Beatrice

BEATRICE - A powerful late fall thunderstorm line caused considerable damage in Gage County, late Wednesday afternoon.

The storm packed winds of 80-to-90 miles-per-hour, uprooting some trees, tearing off sections of roof and breaking power poles in the Beatrice area.  

In downtown Beatrice, part of the roof came off a downtown building, likely Beatrice Bakery at Fifth and Market Streets, scattering debris throughout the downtown area.  A huge section of tin roof was laying on an alley in the downtown, near Third and Ella Streets.  

Three power poles were broken off at their base near 13th and Monroe, hanging over the street and prompting police to block off some streets there, in north-central Beatrice.   A few areas in Beatrice had downed utility lines and loss of electricity.   Trees fell over 8th Street and 13th, blocking vehicle traffic.

Several property owners saw numerous branches down and in some cases, entire trees uprooted.