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Windy Weather Causes Falling Debris, Power Outages
posted 12/31/08 9:14 pm
ABC 7 News - Windy Weather Causes Falling Debris, Power Outages
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WASHINGTON - Windy conditions have caused falling debris, power outages and serious injuries in the Washington area; already a falling tree limb has seriously injured a two-year-old child in Kensington Wednesday morning.

Montgomery County (web | news) Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer confirms that around 9:30 a.m. a large branch fell off the roof of a house and struck a mother and child on the 9800 block of Connecticut Avenue . Medics revived the boy, who was in cardiac arrest.The two-year-old has been admitted to Holy Cross Hospital with serious head injuries that are said to be life threatening.

"We were all in the kitchen this morning and it was very, very windy at the time and we saw a child playing...," said Kathleen Holmay, a neighbor.

Moments later, Holmay said she heard screams from her neighbor's backyard. "You felt so badly -- a child," she said.

In Rockville, a massive tree fell on a townhouse. Now, Marty Waugh said he's grateful his 74-year-old mother was on a lower level when it happened. "If she had been in her bed at the time the attic would have come down on top of her, so we are very happy she's fine," Waugh said.



Piringer says authorities are responding to numerous weather-related calls. In some areas, flying debris has limited drivers' visibility.

Nelly Campbell said she whipping winds and a slick road forced her into a ditch near River Road and the Beltway. Campbell and a friend were banged up in the accident.

"The wet roads and heavy winds just pushed the car right off the road and we flipped," Campbell said. "I felt like at a certain point I wasn't really doing anything wrong and we were out of control for no reason."

In Washington, a fire department spokesman says winds have downed power lines and utility poles. Trees also have fallen on vehicles and homes.

"I actually woke up this morning to winds hailing at my window and was quite surprised," said Heather Burke, a D.C. resident.

A tree has trapped a resident in a home on Fordham Street in northwest, according to officials. The homeowners were in their house when a massive tree came crashing down in their front yard; fortunately, the couple's car took most of the damage. "We opened up a shade in the bedroom, and this is what we saw," said Holt Williams. "The noise was just incredible, much louder than anything we've ever heard."

In Georgetown, a tree fell into the Chartner family's backyard, but no one was hurt.

In Dupont Circle, a fallen tree shut down S Street, causing James Carroll to unload his holiday groceries in the alley and carry them home. "From the alley around back... [it's a] little inconvenient," he said.

The National Weather Service (web | news) has issued a Wind Advisory for the Washington, DC area, including the City of Alexandria (web | news) , which is in effect until 10 p.m. Sustained winds at 20 to 30 mph are expected. Gusts up to 55 mph will be possible, beginning late this morning and continuing into the early evening. Residents with loose items outdoors should secure them or bring them indoors.

The high winds have also led to several traffic lights being out in Fairfax, officials there say. In Silver Spring, Md., Forest Glen Road near Holy Cross Hospital has been temporarily closed due to wind-related incidents. 

Interrupted intersections in Prince George's County due to traffic lights being out include:

  • Pennsylvania Ave. at Alton Street
  • 68th Street at Coopers Lane
  • Cheverly Ave. and Hospital Drive
  • 450 and 65th Avenue 
  • Rt. 450 at Baltimore Washington Parkway 

In D.C., Pepco has reported about 576 power outages; Dominion Power in Virginia has reported nearly 3,008 outages.
In Maryland, at least 6,610 outages have been reported in Montgomery County; at least 1,546 in Prince George's County; nearly 5,000 in Anne Arundle County; Calvert County is reporting 2,472 outages; and Howard County is reporting 2,682 outages.

The high winds also had an impact on air travel, causing delays at Dulles International Airport (web | news) .

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Latest Comments on "Windy Weather Causes Falling Debris, Power Outages"
posted by: Wowzer on 10:53 am on 12/31/08
That picture looks a lot more like Baghdad than Chevy Chase or Kensington.

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