"I’ve been through a lot of bad storms, and this is the worst I’ve ever seen," Woodcliff resident Karinda Janey said about a vicious thunderstorm that toppled trees, ripped roofs off homes and shredded farm fields on June 27.
"It was over in about
10 minutes," said Tom Osterloh, another Woodcliff resident who stood in his great room, watching the storm toss leaves and limbs into the lake.
Throughout the area the high winds were responsible for blowing over semi trucks, downing tree limbs, damaging homes and sending people scrambling for shelter. The fast-moving storm also flooded Fremont streets and damaged crops in about a five-mile wide swath from Cedar Bluffs eastward.
Straight-line winds of up to 115 mph were reported by the National Weather Service.
While Woodcliff residents and others in the path of the storm spent the next few days clearing trees, farmers were left to survey the devastation to their crops.
"Corn that was as tall as your arm is long was snapped off at the elbow and it’s all leaning south and east," said Mike Williams, an agronomist from North Bend. "It was taken off with hail and wind."
The storm ripped apart a 200-foot by 50-foot roping arena on Bill Lindley’s property a few miles west of Woodcliff on Saunders County Road W near County Road 13. The winds sent white metal sheets up into trees - those that were left standing - and into fields a mile away.
Like so many others, friends and family came out to help Lindley clean up.
About a half-mile west of Lindley’s property, homeowners in the Buffalo Knolls development were left surveying damage. Almost every one of the homes sustained some damage; many lost windows and siding looked like Swiss cheese.
Todd Kaiser didn’t lose a single window, but a portion of the roof of his attached garage was ripped off.
"This house has gone through 80 mph winds before without a dent or scratch," he said.
Woodcliff residents delayed July Fourth festivities so work could be done to clear roads and remove debris from the lake. Residents came together to form Replanting Woodcliff, which worked to replant trees lost in the storm.
"I think there’s been a real spirit of community," said Dr. Sean Kenney, president of the Woodcliff Association. "Everyone came together and helped. I was amazed how many volunteer hours were put in."
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