Storm damages Colbert properties

TUSCUMBIA — The Colbert County Emergency Management Agency reported several structures damaged in a Friday morning storm.

EMA Director Mike Melton said the 8:20 storm peeled off a large portion of Whitesell Fastners’ distribu-tion center roof and some large doors on Gargis Lane near the county line. A house across the street had roof damage.

He said the Colbert County Road Department’s equipment shed blew down. The storm damaged a roof, fence and metal building at a Rick Lane’s home and blew a porch off a home on Alabama 157. There were also reports of downed trees and power lines throughout the county.

Some emergency workers estimated that the winds topped 50 mph, but the National Weather Service of-fice in Huntsville reported that the top wind was 32 mph at the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals, while Melton said winds hit 42 mph at his office in Tuscumbia.

Melton said National Weather Service officials were on their way to the area to determine if a tor-nado or straight-line winds did the damage.

BAYNE HUGHES