The storm cleanup

Though the rain and winds came two days ago, some in the Permian Basin were still getting a grip on the historic storm that hit the area Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

According to a National Weather Service survey, 93 mph wind speeds were a record for its Midland station, besting a mark of 86 mph set in 1960. Records have been kept there since 1930.

The damage was the result of a rare weather event called a derecho, a widespread, long-lasting windstorm.

“It’s very rare,” weather service meteorologist Douglas Cain said. “I’ve never seen one, and I’ve worked for the weather service for 16 years.”

What made the storm unusual was its path of more than 400 miles from north of Amarillo to south of Sanderson, Cain said.

SEMINOLE

In Gaines County, where wind speeds were clocked at 97.5 mph, crews were cleaning up in Seminole and Seagraves.

Weather service estimates showed speeds possibly reaching between 100 and 120 mph.

Several trailer homes were destroyed in the storm, Precinct 4 County Commissioner Charlie Lopez said. Lopez was serving as county judge because County Judge Tom Keyes was out of town.

Lopez said he heard an infant injured in one of the trailers was still in a Lubbock hospital but was expected to recover.

Lopez also had advice for county residents.

“Just thank god it didn’t get any worse than it did,” he said. “Only mother nature can tell us why it happened.”

“Stay calm, we’re trying to help people as much as we can,” Lopez said.

TREE DISPOSAL

Odessa residents were taking debris from trees and other vegetation to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 818 W. 42nd St., where it could be turned into mulch.

“It’s been hard,” Claudia Gomez, who had been cutting down trees for Poor Widow Services, said. “But it’s been getting us money.”

Oscar Maldonado, city of Odessa superintendent for solid waste, said the facility had an increase of about 50 percent for the day. An additional worker was even brought in to control traffic.

CITY DEPARTMENTS

Other city workers in Odessa were experiencing an increased but manageable workload.

Public Works director Matt Squyres said his staff should be caught up in the next couple days.

“After a big storm, we check all ditches and all inlets,” he said. “We make sure all debris is picked up, and we’re ready for the next storm.”

Along with tree debris, city workers spent time picking up sheet metal that blew off of tool sheds, Squyres said.

Steve Patton, parks and recreation director, said no trees were uprooted in city parks.

“We just had a few tree limbs (fall off),” he said, “almost surprisingly no damage.”

MAIL

The post office was back to proceeding as normal Thursday after power outages caused sorting problems Wednesday, a worker at the Main Post Office near Midland International Airport said.

On Wednesday, first class mail was delivered, but some standard mail was held up.

ADVICE

Those who own trees that suffered damage should assess the situation carefully, Debbie Frost, horticulturist for Ector and Midland counties, said — particularly with weak-wooded trees like weeping and globe willows, Mimosas, China berries and Siberian elms.

“They may want to consider removing it, because it may cause damage to a house or human life,” she said.

For those who remove trees, Frost advises replanting in October or November.

If a branch is broken, Frost advises to go back to a lateral branch or the trunk and make a good clean cut. Any downed limbs should be run through a chipper or composted.

FORECAST

While more rain is possible over the next few days, Cain does not expect the same kind of wind in future storms.

“We’re in a wet year,” he said. “That will probably continue.”

Damage reports

Ector County residents who suffered property damage from thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday are encouraged to contact the Odessa/Goldsmith/Ector County Emergency Management Office.

Residents can call 335-4650 between 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.