Overnight Storms Topple Dozens Of Trees In North Hills
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The storms overnight left a mess in the North Hills.
The front nine of the North Park Golf Course is closed because of downed trees and people living in a nearby neighborhood are now clearing other debris.
According to the National Weather Service, straight line winds 60 to70 miles an hour cut a path through the North Hills uprooting and shearing trees in several neighborhoods and in nearby North Park.
Andy Baechle, the director of Allegheny County Parks, says the front nine of the golf course is closed and power was knocked out at most park facilities.
"The folks affected tomorrow that have rented facilities in North Park, we're calling you right now, telling you if your facility is affected," says Baechle, "and we'll make a decision tomorrow once we see how the power goes and fixing it for folks that have rented the facilities on Sunday."
The severe weather left a path of destruction along Green Brier Drive in Allison Park.
There is damage all over this neighborhood and residents say it happened so fast.
Pete Smith and his 5-year-old son, Wyatt, say the entire thunderstorm lasted only a couple of minutes.
"The wind just started turning and twisting and it was dark, grey clouds. It just came in and trees were whipping," Pete Smith said.
"Boom. Trees on our road and you know what, our yard was destroyed," Wyatt Smith said.
Several trees on Smith's property were knocked down.
Similar damage could be seen all along the street.
Tree after tree was ripped up at the roots. Fortunately, most people do not have damage to their homes.
"It could have been a lot worse. I mean, it's a cleanup job, that's it. So, it could have been a lot worse. I'm just grateful nothing worse happened," Jai Rabi said.
A number of crews were called in to remove the trees and branches.
There's no doubt, cleanup will be take a while, but landscapers said they are prepared to work through the weekend.
"Just a ton of destruction. There are trees down everywhere, uprooted, anywhere from small decorative trees to huge willow trees, maples, oaks, just a path of destruction through the whole neighborhood," Jesse Zito, of Zito's Landscaping, said.
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