From Deseret News archives:
Billings says storm was 'expensive 12 minutes'
Provo's mayor estimates damage at $13.2 million
Not far from the Tueller home in west Provo, Million Air general manager Larry Mendenhall saw the same clouds roaring across Utah Lake toward the Provo Municipal Airport and scrambled to tow a pair of small planes into a hangar.
There was only time to move one of them.
Then, faster than anyone who saw it or was inside it could believe, the supercell unleashed crushing blasts of wind, intense rain and hail, crashing thunder and lances of lightning.
The scary combination whipped up some $13.2 million in damage, Provo Mayor Lewis Billings announced Wednesday evening.
"It was a very expensive 12 minutes," Billings said of the short, violent storm.
Billings issued a disaster declaration that allowed county equipment and resources to be used in the recovery effort. The declaration also could lead to state and federal relief funds.
Tueller felt the Nu Skin tower twisting in the wind, saw lightning strikes pelt the area and said the storm sounded like a train rolling through. He called his wife, Stacy, to warn her, but he was too late. Power lines already were draped over his home near the intersection of Geneva Road and Center Street, and Stacy was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher.
"The rain, wind and thunder was so loud I didn't even hear the power poles snap," Stacy Tueller said.
When a teenage girl helping her with the children told her the lines were touching the home, she yelled to all of them to get in the basement.
A few houses down, Provo firefighters burst into action from Fire Station No. 4, blocking off the road because of the downed power lines.
"You know in the movies how they knock on your door and barge right in? That's how they really do it," Stacy Tueller said. The firefighters made sure everyone was all right and then told them to stay put.
Dan Tueller had to wait an hour to get to his family. A neighbor had to wait six hours until he could retrieve his extremely bored two children and their three cousins, one of whom is 20, from their home.
Comments
- Utah Jazz gameday 11:51 p.m.
- Trial begins in toddler death 11:46 p.m.
- Judge to send message in mink case 11:43 p.m.
- Man arrested in armed robbery 11:42 p.m.
- Smoky smell at hospital from welders 11:40 p.m.
- 4A: Brown plays big for Timpview 11:40 p.m.
- Medical debts harming families 11:40 p.m.
- Colorado St. spikes Utes 11:39 p.m.
- Agassi is 'Open' and very honest 11:38 p.m.
- 49ers edge Bears, end losing skid 11:38 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
311 - TCU showdown has big implications
195 - Senators want food tax restored
158 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
144 - Will state consider gay rights law?
137 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
119 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - Utes remain silent about BCS
113 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
110
One of my guilty pleasures is perusing the covers of celebrity magazines...
The galactic center shines like firelight through gaps in …
This one scares me...but coach witt always seems to come out with a win....
Jordan Wynn, before its all said and done, will go down as one of the best...
If your thinking this is an exibition game your dead wrong. I mean, I guess...
that Sloan/KOC put in place and insisted on keeping in place. That is Sloan's...
I talked to Harvey Unga's dad and asked if he was going to declare for the...
All that talk about how great the football is up north and down south... Well...
For everyone worried about making the UHSAA come up with several options for...
the line play happens like that when you have 5 WR with no extra help. ...
1 -1-2005 - FIESTA BOWL - Utah 35, Pittsburgh 7 12-29-2005 - Emerald Bowl -...
badger is a beast - nuff said



You can be the first to comment on this story.