Severe Saturday storms pummel SE Nebraska...significant tree damage in Beatrice
Thunderstorm wind gusts of 60-to-80 miles-per-hour cause damage
By News Channel Nebraska
BEATRICE – A severe storm system packing 60-to-80 mile-per-hour winds affected southern and southeast Nebraska Saturday morning.
A large chunk of that area of Nebraska was included in a severe thunderstorm watch, and several warnings were issued for several counties. The storm did significant tree damage in the City of Beatrice.
Weather spotters recorded wind gusts as high as 70-miles-per-hour for private weather stations. Trees and branches were knocked down in Beatrice. In the east part of the city, residents lost power. Saturday morning, a fire in a transformer was reported near 19th and High Streets….the area where power was lost.
Beatrice Mayor Bob Morgan says several branches and trees were knocked down in and city street crews and the local garbage service crews with Midwest Area Refuse Solutions were mobilizing to clear trees from roads on Saturday.
Morgan said an area around Lincoln Street and 11th Street and 12th Street to Summit Streets had a lot of tree damage, including debris blocking roads. A tree fell on the corner of a home and garage near 16th and Garfield. A tree also fell on part of a house at 19th and Lincoln. There were several locations where trees or large sections of trees fell across city streets, blocking traffic.
City electric crews were called out to at least two transformer fires and were working to restore power, which was lost in the east central and northeast areas of the city.
The City of Beatrice on Saturday opened up a tree and branch drop-off site for property owners to bring downed limbs, to a city-owned site at 1st and Ella Streets….northwest of the Gage County Historical Museum.