Weather wreaks havoc on area road, 2 structures
A tornado in Newcastle the afternoon of Tuesday, June 3 damaged a home south of Portland Avenue and S.E. 24th Street, and destroyed a barn at May Avenue between S.E. 24th and S.E. 32nd Streets.
City of Newcastle Director of Information Technology Scott Hannan said there also was minor tree damage at S.E. 32nd Street and S. Pennsylvania Avenue near the South Canadian River.
Storm chasers were locating themselves at various points in Newcastle in the afternoon hours on Tuesday, and some residents recorded video of the tornado as it made its way from west to east in the southern part of the city. The storm tracked northeast away from the area, but not before leaving significant rainfall.
The rainstorm soaked drainage areas at E. Fox Lane, destroying a part of the roadway which was already being repaired from a previous rainfall just west of Portland Avenue (related photo below and on page 2). A second part of E. Fox Lane also eroded underneath the roadway just east of Portland.
The road was immediately closed to traffic, and at the time there was no estimated reopening date as crews assessed the situation and waited for the weather to improve. Newcastle Emergency Management Director Donnie Sullins said crews began temporary repairs at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4. The east section reopened with temporary repair on Wednesday. They asked the public to avoid the area and plan alternate routes.
A main water line near WATER LINE on page 3 Portland and E. Fox Lane, also affected by the erosion, was temporarily disconnected at 9:30 a.m. Thursday for storm-related repairs. It affected residents east of Portland on Fox Lane and on 5th Street.
WATER LINE:
Affects residents east of Fox Lane; lightning hits electric for pump
In an unrelated incident, lightning struck the electric service for a City of Newcastle water booster pump near N.W. 24th Street and N. Council Road. Water pressure was impacted in the areas around Cornerstone, West Oaks, Castle Creek and Suburban Estates. The City had fixed and replaced the booster equipment by Monday.
