WARSAW, Ill. (WGEM) – Residents in Warsaw spent much of Wednesday, June 17 cleaning up debris after multiple trees were downed earlier that morning.
Several residents stated strong winds hit the town around 9 a.m.
Randy Crowley, owner of Warsaw Brewery, told WGEM News he saw the waters of the Mississippi River start to swirl upwards just before the worst of the storm hit near his home.
“Straight across the river, a little to the north, I could see the rain coming down from Keokuk, coming straight our way. And it was just like a wall of rain,” said Crowley.
“A lot goes through your mind at that time… Me and my son headed for the bathroom. There was no time for the basement. So we went to the nearest center room of my house, and hoped the roof was going to stay on,” he added.
Across town, Anne Helenthal was concerned for her 86-year-old mother after a tree was toppled near her property. Helenthal hopes the community will make an effort to replace the trees lost during the storm.
“I can’t even imagine the amount that it’s going to take for these men and women to get this cleaned up. But they will, because Warsaw comes together,” she said.
The storm is the latest in a string of bad weather to batter the area.
“It’s been storm after storm. We’re in a crazy pattern right now, and a lot of rain. The river’s coming up quite a bit, you know,” said Crowley. “But I don’t think we’re going to get out of this pattern anytime soon by the looks of things.”
Warsaw Fire Department Fire Chief Steve Siegrist said trees were downed in at least eight locations across town. No injuries were reported during the storm.
Siegrist said anyone cleaning up limbs should stay away from power lines and call a professional to clear out any hanging debris.
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