Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Storm Slams Into Gurdon Friday Night

There was heavy storm damage in the Gurdon area from Friday night's storm.

However, out in the rest of the county, most of the problem stemmed from trees being blown across roads.

City officials said a tree fell across Miss Betty's Daycare on Main, forcing it to close until repairs can be made.

A tree also fell on a car near Gurdon Primary School, resulting in heavy damage.

Trees were blown on several homes in Gurdon, with a number of business signs also being damaged from the high winds.

A portion of Walnut Street remains blocked as a tree is leaning across the road.

Electricity was out in the city for about an hour Friday night, between 10 and 11.

However, parts of the county were without electricity most of Saturday as several utility poles were snapped by the near-hurricane force winds.

Wind speed was estimated around 70 miles an hour during the worst of the fast-moving storm. When winds reach 74 mph, they are considered to be a class 1 hurricane over water, but are called straight line winds on land.

Clark County Judge Floyd "Buddy" Manning said crews were out working until 2 a.m. Saturday clearing the roads of trees.

Manning said a house and church were damaged by falling trees in the Manchester community, but there were no injuries in either instance.

Several people found themselves having to swim for safety after trying to make landfall and having their boat sink near the spillway on DeGray.

Manning said all involved made it safely to shore.

Employees with the road and bridge department were working Monday to clean up the debris left from the storm.

In Gurdon, the street department will have a site open on Taylor-Dairy Road, taking vegetation and limbs from the storm.

According to Wendy Maxwell, administrative assistant, no building materials will be accepted.

The site will be open all week from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.