By By Lisa Tindell – news writer
Brewton residents had quite a night on Tuesday as storms moved through the area during the early evening hours.
Officials at the Brewton Airport indicated that the area did see some higher than normal wind speeds during the evening on Tuesday.
The winds that roared through the area caused some problems for residents in the Ridge Road area. Power was out from just after 8 p.m. to about 11 p.m., said Bob Ellis, resident of the area.
Ellis also said that two vehicles in his yard received some major damage as the tree that fell hit them.
Ellis said he was not aware how bad the damage was since it was dark at the time.
The downed tree was most likely the result of something called a microburst Robinson said.
Since wind detection instruments must take readings for one minute before registering a change in wind speed, Robinson said that microbursts are usually undetected until the damage has been done.
Residents in one of the areas affected by the storm are customer/members of the Southern Pine Electric Cooperative System, also known as REA.
Harrison said that many residents in the area are still having a problem with falling trees and limbs since Hurricane Ivan hit the area nearly two years ago.
During the evening, on the Ridge Road circuit alone, 1623 customers were without power for approximately two hours Harrison said.
Harrison said those burns were caused by limbs on the line as well as wind and some very bad lightening.
Harrison said that power outages should be reported to the call center as soon as they occur so that workers can be dispatched to the troubled areas.
Microbursts, tornadoes, whirlwinds and thunderstorms can all be the culprit for many problems with utilities during this time of year.