Security video captures toppling trees as tornado blitzes CWE neighborhood
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Video from a block in the Central West End shows toppling trees crashing onto cars as Friday’s storm swept through the area.
The clip, recorded by a car parked on the street, shows the power of the EF-3 tornado that ed through it on its 22-mile path.
On Sunday morning, neighbors worked quickly to patch roofs and secure windows, anticipating another storm moving into the area on Monday.
John Wheeler, who has lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, was in his third-floor office when the storm hit.
“By the time I walked around my desk, all hell had broken loose,” he said.
Other neighbors had similar stories of the quick-hitting storm, saying they had barely had time to take shelter. One man had just gotten through his basement door when his chimney came crashing down right in the alley where he had just walked in.
Wheeler’s home had significant roof damage and debris all over his yard. Most homes on his block had taken at least some damage. A few looked as if they might be total losses.
“We’ve got some houses over here that are missing their third floor,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler, like many others, was ed by friends and family on Sunday to help with the cleanup. He said it highlighted the importance of community following disaster.
“You need to do what you can do yourself,” Wheeler said. “Once you’ve got that, anything you can do for someone else should top your priority list. We’ve benefited from that and we’ll try to it on.”
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