LAYTON — A Utah couple was unable to leave their home this evening after a huge tree crashed through the walls and roof.
Bruce and Micky Wickersham say Tuesday night’s storm showed itself in a way they had never seen before. Bruce observed the lightning above them, but they decided to take shelter as thunder and rain began to rumble over their home near the intersection of Weaver Lane and Angel Street.
“It almost felt like a tornado,” said Bruce Wickersham, pointing to his garage. “And the whole side is covered in leaves, it looked like it just spun through and went through.”
The tree that fell on the Wickershams’ house. (Mike Anderson, KSL TV)
Micky Wickersham says one of her large backyard trees fell just about ten minutes after her husband came in.
“Lots of thunder. Lots of lightning. Scared the hell out of the dogs,” she said. “And just a loud noise. All of a sudden another loud noise, and we went outside and there was a tree in the living room.”
The tree broke through the roof walls of both her living room and an office on the upper floor.
The broken walls and windows of the Wickershams’ house. (Mike Anderson, KSL TV)
Right next door, in the event center “The Hideaway on Angel,” owner Cathy Armstrong reports that it was pouring with rain and hailing.
“It was crazy,” Armstrong said. “You never heard the hail, the wind and the rain. (I) couldn’t even see anything.”
For them, the storm came through with a stroke of luck. They had just hosted a wedding that evening and happened to have Tuesday free to clean up in time and host weddings the rest of the week.
City workers clean up the mess near The Hideaway on Angel event center. (Mike Anderson, KSL TV)
Armstrong, staff and a tree service company worked to clear downed branches and blown tree tops, as well as minor flooding that had entered through the front entrance of the event center.
According to Layton fire officials, several homes in the area were hit with similar damage, but no injuries were reported. Several power lines were also downed, but have since been repaired.
Although she is grateful for the rain, Armstrong hopes the storms forecast for later this week will not be quite as severe.
“I hope, you know, that we continue to have these small storms,” Armstrong said. “(But) I hope we slow down on this. And I’m just glad. I hope that the people in the homes that may have been hit were safe.”
