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April 4, 2008
Vickie Pleus, APR
Community Information Manager

SEVERE WEATHER HITS DELAND LATE THURSDAY

Volusia County Fire Services (VCFS) units, with assistance from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO), DeLand Fire Department and EVAC Ambulance, responded to calls about a possible microburst and downed trees and power lines at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3. Power was lost in the area surrounding Brandywine Shopping Center, 3100 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, and affected areas near the junction of SR 11, 15A and 17 in DeLand.

Fire Services engines searched the area for downed trees and affected structures, and found two mobile homes struck by trees. The crews deemed the two structures, and a home in Brandywine struck by a tree, inhabitable. The American Red Cross arrived to assist homeowners of the affected structures. No injuries were reported.

According to VCFS Battalion Commander John Pasqualle, fire crews found 11 downed trees in the affected area, three blocking subdivision roads. No major roadways were blocked by downed trees. Tree removal crews were requested to Crooked Tree, the intersection of Concord and Brandywine, and Sago Circle. Volusia County Public Works Department crews removed the downed trees.

VCSO’s Air-One helicopter and several other VCSO special assistance services units responded to the area to assist with damage control.

Progress Energy reported that 80-percent of the power outage had been restored by 1 a.m., including power to the major intersections in the area.

NOAA’s National Weather Service defines a microburst as a convective downdraft with an affected outflow area of less than 2.5-miles wide and peak winds lasting less than five minutes. Microbursts may induce dangerous horizontal/vertical wind shears, which can adversely affect aircraft performance and cause property damage. Winds gusts can exceed 80 mph.

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