Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wind storm strikes Whelen community

High winds, hail and rain came down hard enough early Sunday afternoon, June 25, to knock over a shed and push down several trees along Old Whelen Road.

Whelen Springs Fire Chief Sam LeMay said Thursday, June 29, "It did some damage all over Whelen Springs, but especially on Old Whelen Road. The storm did not last long, but it did get a few of our trees and one big shed."

What is left of the shed, according to Whelen Postmaster Kim LeMay, belongs to J.W. and Dean Henderson at 304 Old Whelen Road.

"I was out there when the shed and trees went down," she said. "I pick some people up to go to the First Christian Church at Gurdon with us. They live in a trailer park near there. About 12:15 p.m., when I was dropping them off after church, it started raining really heavy, then the wind picked up and we had some hail. It was pretty scary for a few minutes."

The Hendersons shed was knocked completely down, with the roof on the ground and the sides of the building collapsed and laying flat near where they had been holding up the roof.

Sam LeMay reported no injuries.

Kim LeMay said, "The storm was intense for a brief period. I thought about taking cover, but the worst was over before I had a chance to find some place to hide."