News - Cincinnati assesses damage from freak windstorm

The remnants of Hurricane Ike brought wind, not rain to the Tri-State Sunday, causing widespread damage and power outages.

At one point about 90 percent of Duke Energy Corp.’s 800,000 local customers were without power, according to WCPO-TV. Duke said it might take a week to get everyone’s lights back on. Power is on in downtown Cincinnati, however.
Winds of 55 miles per hour – reportedly gusting over 70 mph – toppled trees, tore siding from houses and spread debris widely over a three-to-four-hour period Sunday afternoon. Most schools closed on Monday.

Three people – two in Oxford and one in Mount Healthy – were killed by falling trees. Damage ranged from blown-off roofs and toppled chimneys, to fallen trees and snapped power lines.




Source : bizjournals