MORELAND TOWNSHIP -- The National Weather Service is expected to be in Lycoming County to check out damage from Tuesday's storms.
Very strong wind during Tuesday's storms in central Pennsylvania ended up blowing away a commercial chicken coop near Muncy. The coop was empty because the property was being remodeled and now we know it was a good thing no birds were around.
"This is the worst thing that ever you know with our family situation that's for sure," said Denny Wagner.
In 25 years in business, Denny Wagner never expected his chicken house look like this.
"Yep, this is the building. This used to be the chicken house,” said Wagner.
The massive building at Wagner’s Poultry near Muncy was ripped from its foundation during a storm with high winds and hail.
"It scattered it all the way through the neighborhood,” said Wagner.
Damage could cost over $1.1 million to repair, but Wagner who has insurance says he has a lot to be grateful for.
"It sounded like a freight train coming. I said something is going to happen,” said Wagner.
The farmer was inside the building with his son and four other workers when the storm hit.
"We looked back and it started tearing my building on the corner, back corner," said Wagner.
Curvin Wagner ran for cover.
"People could have been hurt. Six guys were in there and they all came out untouched and that's just a blessing,” said Wagner.
On top of that, up until a few months ago, about 80,000 chickens were housed in the building. When the storm hit not one chicken was inside.
"That was a blessing we didn't have any animals in here," said Wagner.
The Wagners are transitioning from caged birds to free range and recently sold their 80,000 or so chickens.
Before the storm, the family was remodeling the chicken house and had just gutted the building. They hope to have the chicken house back up by the time the new flock of about 30,000 chickens arrives this fall.
"We talked it over with the family and had a prayer and we're stepping forward we're moving on it's just one of those things you call a bump in the road, but this is a bigger bump in the road," said Wagner.
The National Weather Service is working to find out find out exactly what caused all of the damage during the storm in Lycoming County.
