A tree in the 1000 block of Lawrence Street was brought down Tuesday evening by a lightning strike.
Corky Heller, who lives nearby, reported that the strike happened around 7:30 p.m.
“I was watching the ValuNet fiber camera view of the western part of the city to check for lightning activity when it hit,” Heller said. “I felt it before I knew what was happening. It felt like my house exploded, and my chair felt like it was going to drop through the floor.”
At the same moment, Heller saw a bright flash, either from the TV screen or a reflection from the front door.
“There was no time between the sound and the feel of it,” Heller said.
Initially, Heller thought the large sycamore tree in front of his house was struck, but it turned out to be his neighbor’s tree across the street. The tree split in half, fell across the road, and landed on another neighbor’s vehicle.
“The windshield is broken, and there are many dents, but the roof might be saved because of the luggage rack on top,” he said.
Wood splinters from the strike are scattered around the block.
The Emporia area is still expecting more severe weather tonight, with storms likely until 1 a.m.
