Smethport Web — by Nathan Muller

With little advanced warning, a mid-afternoon storm barreled into Smethport, Pennsylvania on Thursday, July 26, taking out power, disrupting phone service, uprooting trees, damaging homes and clogging streets with debris.

Borough police, fire department, utility and road crews were quick to respond in getting Smethport cleaned up. No storm-related injuries were reported.

The storm has been officially declared a “microburst” with wind gusts from 70 to 100 mph causing widespread property damage in Smethport and elsewhere throughout North Central Pennsylvania.