"Here are some pictures of the lightning strike which jolted my family out of bed at 7 a.m. this morning down at Bell's Point," writes SooToday.com reader Allen Banks.
"The 'blast' lasted about four to six seconds and obliterated the trunk of a large healthy pine tree by the river," Banks tells us. "My ears are still ringing from the intesity of strike. Fortunatly, no one was hurt."
The winds and rains swept in off Whitefish Bay, downing trees and knocking out electrical power around parts of the Sault for more than 90 minutes.
SooToday.com has received other unconfirmed reader reports of substantial problems east of here, including a power outage in Bruce Mines and collapsed barns in Johnson Township.
More of Allen Banks' pictures from Bell's Point are being posted below.
Additional reader photos of today's storm damage can be e-mailed to [email protected]
The following is the final report from the PUC on the outage in the Sault:
******************* Past Outage
This is a description of an unplanned power interruption that recently affected PUC Distribution customers in Sault Ste. Marie.
Interruption Date: July 16, 2006
Start: 07:02
Restored at: 09:35
# of Customers: 524
Cause
Storm Damage - tree on Lines
Description of area involved: Great Northern Road north of Third Line to City limits, Fourth Line to Sixth Line, Old Goulais Bay Road to Conor Road.
Power has been restored to all customers.
If you are still without power please call the PUC Emergency number at 759-6555.
*************************
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