High winds cause minor damage, power outages in Auburn area
By MARK KLAAS
Auburn Reporter Regional Editor
December 17, 2012 · Updated 2:33 PM
One glance at the fallen Douglas fir in her front yard reminded Carrie Pond just how fortunate she was.
She had fallen asleep in her recliner watching television in the front room of her home on Auburn's West Hill early Monday morning when she was suddenly awakened by a loud noise.
"It was like an explosion," she said.
High winds suddenly blew down a 53-foot-long tree that occupied the corner of her lot. The uprooted tree struck and caused minor damage to the roof but narrowly missed the southeast side of the home, where Carrie Pond was sleeping in her recliner.
"I feel very, very lucky," Carrie Pond said. "We already have one Christmas tree (in the house). We didn't need two."
Pond intends to have a crew remove the tree.
Gusts were between 23 and 59 mph in the area overnight and into the morning, the National Weather Service reported.
The latest storm generated high winds, heavy mountain snow and power outages in South King and Thurston counties.
Gusts knocked out power for about 8,000 Puget Sound Energy customers in both counties.
Contact Auburn Reporter Regional Editor Mark Klaas at mklaas@auburn-reporter.com or 1-253-833-0218 (ext 5050).Comment on this story.
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