Powerful storm winds flip boats, destroy docks
Storm plowed across 13-acre manmade lake in Summit
Storm plowed across 13-acre manmade lake in Summit
Storm plowed across 13-acre manmade lake in Summit
The storms were so powerful that some people woke up Thursday morning to find that wind had flipped their boats and destroyed their docks.
"(I) looked down and saw everybody's boats and piers flipped over," Mick Smith said.
"She goes, 'Oh, my God, the boat's upside down. I says, 'You gotta be kidding me," Dave Strobel said.
It was no joke for Strobel in Summit.
He heard the tornado alerts but by morning was shocked to see his beloved speed boat totaled.
"It probably flew 30 feet and tipped over," Strobel said.
The storm plowed across a 13-acre manmade lake, dismantling docks and lifts.
Part of Smith's pier flew through his neighbor's window.
"One piece had gone up, and you can see boarded up the window. They're about 100 pounds. It flown up into his bedroom window," Smith said.
There were pockets of damage all across Waukesha County.
In the town of Genesee, there were downed trees all over the place.
The National Weather Service said an EF0 tornado touched down.
"Some of the worst is just like what you see behind us — lot of downed trees, downed limbs, down wire, it's more of the same, but it's scattered everywhere," said Russ Card, of We Energies.
Trees, power lines and possessions were damaged, but lives were spared.
"We're very thankful that there was no other damage. Boats can be replaced. You don't like to do that, but nobody got hurt," Strobel said.
At last check, We Energies continues to repair down power lines and restore power.
Many of the boat owners said they also spent most of the day submitting insurance claims.