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'Like a freight train' - Shocked neighbors cleaning up after storms in Columbia County

Folks in Briar Creek Township, near Berwick, hardly know where to start cleaning up after devastating storms Wednesday night.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Pa. — Just about everywhere you look, there are downed trees, powerlines, and branches in parts of Columbia County.

The National Weather Service was in the Berwick area on Thursday taking a look at the damage, but residents who are cleaning up already have their minds made up about the power of this storm.

Geno Monroe flagged us down to show the countless trees uprooted and toppled behind his home along Upper Woodcrest Road. He was outside just moments before the storm hit in Briar Creek Township.

"It was something forming like that cloud there. And it went just like a funnel. Then, all hell broke loose," Monroe said. "I didn't know, I was scared. I thought, 'Oh, boy, something is going to happen.' And it did."

Rolling in and out in minutes, the storm left behind major damage in its wake,

Bloomingail's was toppled to the ground.

Berwick Golf Course also took some damage.

As the sun came up, companies were out clearing fallen trees off homes.

Many neighbors were forced to rely on generators as crews worked to get power restored.

Deb Havard said she never expected this storm to be so mighty.

"It just came on my phone that it was severe thunderstorms, and I thought, 'OK, severe thunderstorms, that's no big deal.' But then I came home to this."

Downed trees line the several acres of her property.

While chainsaws roar in the Robbins family's front yard, Bill Robbins says the storm was something he's never seen in his 52 years of living here.

"It sounded like a freight train. We were actually in the living room, and the hail was unreal," Bill Robbins said.

"Devastating," Marie Robbins said. "There are so many people worse than us, but it's devastating."

Some are luckier than others. Just a few houses down, a homeowner's front porch was ripped off.

These neighbors are trying to figure out where to start cleaning up with all of this damage.

"I hope another windstorm comes and takes it away," Monroe laughed. "What can I say? That's going to take time."

There was also an incredible show of support happening.

The Berwick High School football team was off the field and out in the community helping homeowners clean up.

"It's a little rough. I got a few scrapes here and there, but that's alright," said team member Brett Eisenhower. "Coach Curry saw all the damage on our way back from our scrimmage at Crestwood, and he thought it would be a good way to help out the community."

It's more than a simple gesture for those who have lived here for more than 50 years.

"If it weren't for those young men, what would you do? I think it's awesome what they're doing," Robbins said.

For others, it's a helping hand during their weakest moments.

"I'm sure people have it worse than I do, but just for them to reach out to help. They're really good young men," Havard said.

"Berwick might be a small town, but when we come together, we come together. Everybody steps up for everyone, and we're all there to help one another," Debbie Watson said.

There is no word if the winds that caused all the damage came from a tornado.

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