Severe storms leave thousands without power, funnel cloud reported
Severe storms moved through Maine Wednesday afternoon and evening, causing damage and thousands of power outages.
“We heard the crunch and looked out and saw branches going by the windows,” said Waterford resident Stephen Knight, while taking stock of the damage to the property along Route 37 he shares with family.
Crews responded to the towns of Waterford, Norway and Fryeburg for reports of trees down and power lines down.
A dispatcher with Oxford County Sheriff's Office said that officials were responding to numerous reports of damage throughout the county.
“Just a big gust of wind. It blew real hard for a little while,” Knight said.
Two cars on his property were destroyed along with a railing outside their home. A 50-foot tree snapped over a pickup truck, destroying it just feet from their front door. The family’s roof was damaged too and will require repairs.
Knight was thankful the family, including his mother Virginia, stayed safe inside the home together during the brief but powerful storm.
“Thank God we were all standing inside the kitchen,” Knight said.
A funnel cloud was reported in South Paris after a tornado warning was issued for the area.
Central Maine Power reported more than 8,000 power outages at the peak of the storms. Fewer than 700 remained Thursday morning.