Afternoon storm leaves damage in its wake

By Carrie A. Mizell

Power outages, downed trees and marble size hail were reported throughout Gilchrist County on Monday afternoon after a microburst passed through the area.
The sky grew dark just after 2 p.m. and by 2:30 rain was falling in sheets. The sky was lit up with lightning, and thunder was rolling. Marble size hail was reported near County Road 232 and County Road 347.

Two metal sheds at Trenton Elementary were twisted and toppled.

According to Ron Mills, chief of Gilchrist County Emergency Management, the storm winds exceeded 50 mph.
The fast moving storm left a lot of damage throughout the county.
A boat was damaged and the roof of Ken and Peggy Keeling’s Trenton home was devastated by a fallen tree. Falling tree limbs also damaged several vehicles at Billy Smith’s Watermelons.
Several large pine trees also fell near the Gilchrist County School District Office and at least two employees reported broken windows in their vehicles after the storm went through.
Laura Teague, owner of Forever Flowers in Trenton, said on Monday evening that her business will be closed for several days after a large water oak fell close to the building, damaging power lines.
Rainfall from the storm varied from a half inch in the north end of the county to two inches in southern Gilchrist County.