Storm

July 27, 1987 Several hundred homes were without electricity Sunday night and early today after an early evening storm packing high winds, lightning and rain rumbled through Clark County. The storm, part of a wide band of storms which moved across central Kentucky Sunday night, also toppled a few trees locally and caused no major traffic problems and no major injuries. Local dentist Dr. John I. Gray recently presented a check for $550 on behalf of himself and his corporation to Dr. Rankin Skinner, coach of the local soccer team that will tour Ecuador next month.

The Allen Chapel C.M.E. church steeple and cross on East Broadway are in stark contrast to the dark clouds that moved over Winchester Thursday afternoon. The clouds brought thunder and lightning and less than a quarter inch of rain. James Mann/jmann@winchestersun.com

Despite severe thunderstorm and flash food warnings, weekend storms didn't bring much more than welcomed relief for Clark County. Residents were mostly free of any weather-related trouble during the weekend, though some homes lost power. Clark County Emergency Management Director Gary Epperson said there were no reports of damage throughout the county and few trees or branches obstructed local roads. Clark County Road Supervisor Kevin Wilson said his office dealt with a handful of trees down but nothing out of the ordinary.

Kentucky singer/actress Laura Bell Bundy didn't need a lot of persuading to join Montgomery Gentry at Buster's Billiards and Backroom in Lexington on Wednesday night for a benefit concert to help relief victims through the Kentucky Red Cross. “I want to help the people of my home state as much as I can. The tornado was devastating, and if I can sing and entertain to raise funds for them, I will. In fact, we (Montgomery Gentry and concert sponsor 98.1 The Bull), along with other country music artists, have been trying to plan a concert for the last few months so I'm very glad this came together.” Bundy, 31, has performed in a number of Broadway roles as well as appeared on TV and in films.

We were driving back from Walmart one day last week. When we passed by the local bank we use here, Gene turned into the parking lot, saying he might as well deposit a check we'd just received. The air was still and warm, the sun was out and I told him I would just wait for him in the car while he did the bank business. Almost immediately I felt too warm sitting there, so first I opened the passenger window, and followed that up by opening my car door to let the warm air mix with a breeze just kicking up. What happened next could only happen in Colorado.

I am sure most of us have heard of post traumatic stress disorder as it relates to our soldiers returning home. However, have any of us considered that our pets can suffer from this disorder if they are exposed to the damage of a tornado or an earthquake?  Actually, it has been recorded that there are two relatively common situations that can produce this disorder: car accidents and being attacked by another dog. After spending a night huddled in the basement, listening to the radio as the winds scream outside and the hail pounds the house walls, the pets are reading your apprehension and feeling very insecure.

The severe thunderstorms and tornadoes that caused heavy damage and several deaths across Kentucky and Indiana March 3 served as a vivid reminder that being prepared before storms hit is crucial. Winchester-Clark County Emergency Management Director Gary Epperson said spring is the prime season for severe weather outbreaks and being prepared for them beforehand many times can mean the difference between life and death. “Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes sometimes without warnings.

Danville officials are replacing a tornado siren in the Streamland pool parking lot at an estimated cost of $16,000. The siren is one of eight within the Danville city limits, said network administrator Mike Warren. It was placed in its current location during 1996 or 1997. All of the tornado sirens in the city are old, noted Interim City Manager Ron Scott. Some were placed in the 1990s, while others were installed in the 1970s, added Boyle County Emergency Management Director Lennie Shepperson.

“When all is said and done, the weather and love are the two elements about which one can never be sure.” Writer Alice Hoffman certainly had the right idea about last Friday's Kentucky weather. I fully intended to be tucked in safely at home when the storm hit. I diligently watched on my workstation the radar of the approaching storm, and since I only live five minutes from home, I felt sure I could get the timing right. Then the bottom dropped out. I couldn't shut my computer down fast enough.

Last week, Kentucky and neighboring states were ravaged by tornadoes that claimed dozens of lives and tore apart thousands of families. Jessamine County was one of the lucky areas to be spared; however, the tornadic winds exposed some “very serious flaws in the area's preparedness” for many of its residents. On Friday, the head of the engineering and sciences library at the University of Kentucky, Susan K. Smith, was at work when the notice went out for all employees to go home to shelter as dangerous wind patterns were threatening tornadoes.