The severe thunderstorm that went through the Park Falls area on July 3 resulted in numerous reports of damage, according to the Park Falls Police Department. Fortunately, there were reported injuries.
The calls started coming in at around 5:50 p.m., and continued throughout the evening, according to the police report filed by Officer Robert Zoubek.
A large tree on the west side of 9th Avenue South came down blocking most of the roadway and knocked down cable television utility lines. Zoubek provided traffic control for the Park Falls Department of Public Works while a crew cleared the scene.
A large tree on the west side of 8th Avenue South came down, entirely blocking the roadway, he said. Zoubek placed cones and assisted with traffic control while public works crews cleared the site.
A tree branch from the west side of Sixth Avenue South at Second Street came down and was blocking the southbound traffic lane. Zoubek assisted with traffic control as the DPW cleared the site.
A tree came down blocking the roadway on Fourth Avenue North at First Street North, he said. Zoubek and officer Jack Dietrich provided traffic control while DPW crew cleared the site and reopened the highway.
Dietrich received a report that a tree or branch had come down onto a streetlight causing damage at First Avenue North at Seventh Street. He referred the call to DPW and was advised they would check the site to make sure no further immediate action was needed.
2nd Street South/7th Avenue South: The eastbound stop sign came down as a result of the high winds. DPW responded to temporarily repair the sign with plans to fix it permanently at a later date.
Another call regarded the eastbound stop sign that came down at Eighth Avenue South at Fifth Street due to the high winds. DPW responded and provided a temporary repair of the sign until crews could return another day to conduct a permanent repair.
In addition to the major calls of trees on roadways, officers patrolled the city to report any additional damage. The officers located a large branch down in the backyard of a Cedar Street resident.