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Dozens of crews were out chopping up trees and re-stringing power lines after Thursday's damaging storm in Northeast Washington.
At 20th and Shepherd streets Larry Hucks watched as the giant tree he saw fall was removed from his neighborhood. "You could see the lightning when it struck and the tree is so tall you could see when it was falling. So we just stopped right there and when we came up it was laying on the house."
Benny Martin spent his Friday assessing damage to his home. He was convinced that a tornado came through his neighborhood. "All of a sudden I saw the rain and the wind, it was so severe. If anyone would've been outside they would've been blown away because it was like a tornado. When the rain was hitting the window it was more like a circular motion."
On Taylor Street a potentially live power line posed a hazard for motorists. Some drivers navigated their way around it before firefighters came and blocked off the street. By midday, many in the community were still without power.
A tree outside Cleopatra Wooten's house came down Thursday night leaving her with partial power to her house. "It's just the food. Gonna ruin my food. The freezer, the food in the freezer, the refrigerator, two refrigerators, and one freezer, and water going to be down there and I got to keep mopping it up."
The sky opened up about 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Residents were pounded with rain, hail and fierce winds. ABC 7 Super Doppler Radar caught strong rotation in storms Thursday, from the Damascus area of Montgomery County (web|news) to areas of Prince George's and Calvert counties.
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No tornado was confirmed, but gusts exceeded 60 miles an hour in some areas.
Northeast resident Lillie Frye was in her home when she started seeing golf ball sized hail strike her windows late Thursday afternoon. She says she was startled by the storm, "the storm came through very fast." An enormous tree, uprooted itself, and smashed onto her home. "That sound, like a roar. What has happened here?" she said.
She wasn't the only one in a daze, in Brentwood, Maryland, porches were decimated and roofs tested. Benny Ordones's family ran out of their home as they heard a tree come crashing in, destroying a bedroom and much of their kitchen.
The storm described as a "micro burst" also brought down trees onto power lines and cars. D.C. fire crews kept a close eye on power lines that ignited in the middle of the road. Meanwhile, some drivers are counting their blessings after their cars were crushed.
Kenneth Milam was returning from his job when a tree trapped him in his Ford Contour. He says it's a miracle he eventually walked out with just a dirty shoulder. "If someone doesn't believe in God, let me testify to them."
"I bent over, then it crushed the passenger side of the car and didn't touch me," recalled Milam. "Glass was around me and all, but the only thing I was doing was praying." There was a similar scene on Kenyon Street in Northwest, near Washington Hospital Center.
The tree's so big, they're going to have to cut the limb before they can even get to the tree," predicted neighborhood resident Jeff Abbey.
Falling trees crushed cars. One woman was sitting in her brand new SUV when the roof crumpled above her.
"The most important thing is I'm not hurt, but it was very scary, the impact of the tree hitting the truck," said Foxzy Parky.
One ABC 7 iWitness viewer sent in video of a fierce hailstorm in Damascus.
The ABC 7 WeatherBug network recorded a 64 mph gust at Centreville Elementary School in Frederick, Md. In the District, Children's National Medical Center was buffeted by 59 mph winds. Robert Gray Elementary in Capitol Heights experienced a 57 mph gust.
The storm ripped the roof of a building in the 6000 block of Kansas Avenue, NE.
"We went inside to the store because we were afraid," said Manuel Flores.
One tree fell onto a house on at Varnum and 10th streets, NE, taking an utility pole with it.
Elsewhere, downed power lines sparked a small fire. In all, it made for a very busy day 
for firefighters.
"It's a very large operation. Essentially, what we're now doing is damage assessment," said D.C. Fire and EMS Chief Dennis Rubin.
Over 1,000 homes in the D.C. area were reported to be without power. Authorities say eight houses have been damaged as well as one person has been reported to be injured after tree fell on their car.
The American Red Cross of the National Capital Area responded to the 1,400 residents without power with two canteen trucks to provide food, snacks, beverages and water.
Shelter has been set up at North Michigan Park Recreation Center located at 13th & Emerson in Northeast D.C.
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