Family twice bitten by high winds - lose barn

High winds that hit south of Columbia Falls last week caused damage at one residence on Eckelberry Drive.

Rocky and CJ Street awoke Sunday morning to find that a large Ponderosa Pine had split their barn into two pieces.

Now, CJ is wondering how they'll care for their four horses who are used to being in the barn for shelter. Their winter supply of hay is also in the barn and now not accessible.

Early this week two trees near the barn also threatened to fall on the structure after being weakened by the storm.

"I can't believe how the wind can devastate," said CJ.

It was around midnight on Saturday when CJ and Rocky last checked on the horses before heading to bed. Sometime during the night the tree fell.

Earlier in the evening CJ said the "wind was roaring."

She and Rocky had been walking from the garage to their home, when CJ heard a piece of steel moving in the wind. She told Rocky to stop and they stood against the garage.

That's when a piece of metal, she believes was roofing about 40 feet in length, tore through the space between the buildings. The couple didn't see where the metal came from or where it ended up.

CJ estimates the wind was just half of what it was during an April storm that left many residents in the area with trees on their homes. This time the Streets appear to be the only ones with large damage.

During the April storm, the Streets had several trees fall on their home and two of their out buildings were damaged.

"I thought we had all the trees cut down that were going to do anything," said CJ.

Work still hasn't been completed since the April damage to their home and the two outbuildings remain untouched.

Even as CJ surveyed the damage Monday the wind continued to come in strong gusts. The couple have lived on Eckelberry Drive for 10 years and have never seen wind like this before.

"It's never been this bad, but it has been getting progressively worse," said CJ.

CJ says they'll deal with the continued clean up some way, but it's her four horses that has her concerned.

Over the years, CJ has rescued several horses and then found them homes. Each of the four that remains with her has a story of overcoming illness or abuse.

"Winter is rapidly approaching and where do we put the boys (horses)," asked CJ.

She's looking at constructing a temporary structure for the horses, but is concerned that wouldn't hold up if another wind storm hits. Housing them at a temporary place seems to be the only alternative, but CJ says she not sure where that might be.

"They need a place with good fences, water and shelter," she said. "That will help till we can get back on track."