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Many people were left without power following a thunderstorm with strong winds that blew the area Sunday night, taking down trees and branches across the county.
On Monday morning, just over 900 Dominion Power customers and nearly 400 BARC customers were without power. Crews for both companies were able to restore power to most of their customers on Monday, with about 100 Rockbridge County residences still without power until Tuesday. Power was restored to those customers yesterday.
Fire and emergency services were busy throughout the evening of the storm, responding to around 60 calls for downed trees across the entirety of Rockbridge County, according to Rockbridge County Fire Chief Nathan Ramsey.
Among them was a call to Jellystone Campground in Natural Bridge, where crews responded to a report of trees fallen on campers.
The Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department and Glasgow Rescue Squad were first on the scene and found “a large tree that had fallen on several vehicles, campers, and tents,” according to a post on the fire department’s Facebook page.
Crews were able to get to the vehicles and tents under the tree and determined that none were occupied. While on the scene, responders were notified that a tree had fallen on a cabin at the campground with occupants inside. Crews were able to clear the entrance to the cabin and get the occupants out. Natural Bridge Fire Department and Rockbridge County Fire and Rescue assisted Glasgow Fire Department at the scene.
Several county residents shared their experiences of the storm with The News-Gazette through its Facebook page. One told related that her stepson was stuck driving in the storm when a tree branch landed on his truck, shattering the windshield. Another said that an electric pole on Cedar Creek Road broke and the landed in the road.
Despite the high winds and large number of fallen trees, no injuries were reported at Jellystone Park or anywhere else in the county.
“It’s fortunate, for sure, considering the magnitude of the wind that came through there, but there wasn’t any injuries at all,” Ramsey told The News-Gazette on Monday.
A TREE fell on a cabin at Jellystone Campground in Natural Bridge, trapping occupants inside. Emergency crews from Glasgow, Natural Bridge and Rockbridge County responded and were able to clear the tree so the occupants could leave. (photo courtesy of the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department)
DOWNED TREES and broken tree branches were seen throughout the Rockbridge area, including this large tree branch that broke off and landed in the yard of a house on Main Street in Lexington. Emergency crews responded to around 60 calls of fallen trees throughout the county. (photo by Frances Ruley)
TREES fell on several vehicles, RVs and tents at Jellystone Campground. All were unoccupied at the time. No injuries were reported at Jellystone or throughout the county. (photo courtesy of the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department)
