Storm downs trees, cuts power

One of two endangered evergreens in front of the Amherst Municipal Building is cut down by Highway Department employee Mike Cessario during Wednesday's windstorm. Photo by David F. Sherman Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

January ended with a bit of bad weather as a windstorm closed schools and downed power lines on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Two days later, Feb. 1 wasn't much better with an ice storm.

Winds whipped through Western New York early Wednesday morning and lasted throughout the day. Wind gusts averaged 60 mph, downing trees and knocking out power.

Jim Zymanek, director of emergency services for Amherst, said 20,000 Amherst residents lost power. Most had power restored by the next day, except in individual cases where boxes were ripped off houses.

Zymanek had been attending a training conference in Geneva when he and other directors from WNY were dismissed to deal with the storm back home.

A Red Cross shelter was opened at the Harlem Road Community Center to aid residents without power. Zymanek said six residents from Cheektowaga came in to warm up.

Once-tall trees along Auxaire Drive are stacked like dominoes after peak gusts hit 68 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The trees were later cut down.

The estimated damage total is $100,000.

"The town faired very well," he said. The Williamsville, Sweet Home and Amherst schools were closed on Wednesday.

Amherst Highway Department crews topple the trunk of one of two evergreens in front of the Municipal Building after the remainder of the 40-foot tree was felled. Wind chill factors during Wednesday's windstorm were estimated near 0.