Storm, possible microburst cause damage in and around Cleveland

CLEVELAND — A late afternoon thunderstorm hit Cleveland and some areas just west of the city Tuesday afternoon.

The first report received by officials was the roof of a barn had been ripped off around 4:45 p.m.

White County Public Safety Director David Murphy said officials believe a microburst caused that damage.

The system moved on into downtown Cleveland and Cleveland Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt said it pounded the downtown area for about 45 minutes.

"As the storm came through, we had extremely heavy rain, thunder and lightning and small hail," Pruitt said. "It was contained to the Cleveland area."

There were a few trees blown down, a part of the roof of a home on Hood Street was blown off, one of the decorative light poles at the historic courthouse was blown down and at least one home was struck by lightning, Pruitt said.

No injuries were reported.

As the storm was dropping heavy rain on the downtown area, the driver of a pickup truck reportedly hit the gas instead of the brake in the parking lot of Chick-fil-A and the vehicle ended up striking a vehicle, a flagpole and coming to rest against the side of the building, No injuries were reported in that incident.

Part of the roof of a Hood Street home in Cleveland can be seen after being ripped loose during Tuesday afternoon's storm.

A decorative light pole is broken on the grounds of the Historic White County Courthouse Museum after it was leveled by Tuesday afternoon's storm.

Smoke pours from a tree that fell across power lines in Cleveland Tuesday afternoon.

A truck rests against the side of Chick-fil-A in Cleveland after the driver mistakenly hit the gas pedal rather than the brake and struck another vehicle and a flagpole before coming to rest against the building.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/6/411418/storm-possible-microburst-cause-damage-in-and-around-cleveland