Disaster Tourism

Riding around the block after a nasty storm showed far more than the usual number of leaves on the Dutchess Rail Trail:

Wappinger Tornado - Rail Trail near Titusville Rd - 2017-06-01 — Wappinger Tornado – Rail Trail near Titusville Rd – 2017-06-01

I spotted several trees down on both sides of the trail approaching Maloney Road, with another large branch across that access ramp:

Wappinger Tornado - Maloney Rd Rail Trail ramp - 2017-06-01 — Wappinger Tornado – Maloney Rd Rail Trail ramp – 2017-06-01

You might be able to see the large tree down across the trail on the far side of the road, up the slope.

Maloney Rd had many downed trees:

Wappinger Tornado - Maloney Rd 1 - 2017-06-01 — Wappinger Tornado – Maloney Rd 1 – 2017-06-01

With chainsaw chips and flare ash piles everywhere:

Wappinger Tornado - Maloney Rd 2 - 2017-06-01 — Wappinger Tornado – Maloney Rd 2 – 2017-06-01

From the National Weather Service:

The National Weather Service in coordination with Dutchess County Emergency Management officials, have confirmed a brief touchdown of a tornado on May 31. The tornado path began near the intersection of Maloney Road and Route 376. The tornado traveled due east along and just north of Maloney Road for approximately 1.25 miles before dissipating. Damage included numerous snapped hardwood and softwood trees and the roof lifted off a shed.

Both of Mary’s gardens suffered beatdowns, with the Vassar Farm plot pretty thoroughly pulverized by marble-size hail; she’s not in a good mood right now.

The DPW crews had plenty on their to-do list, but that branch was gone a day later.

Update: The top of the barely visible tree in the second picture just kissed the trail fence, but a much larger tree smashed both fences on its way across the trail:

Wappinger Tornado - Rail Trail S of Maloney - 2017-06-04 — Wappinger Tornado – Rail Trail S of Maloney – 2017-06-04

If you need some firewood, maybe you can make a deal …

Comments

2 responses to “Disaster Tourism”

2017-06-05

Trudi

Did the tornado blow down the road sign (penultimate photo) and leave the electric pole? Or did something else, like a car, take the sign?
1. 2017-06-05
  
  Ed
  
  Perhaps the DPW crew removed it while removing fallen trees & branches: it seems uprooted and laid down, rather than pushed over.
  
  I added a picture from a later ride showing some deft chainsaw work on the trail just south of the Maloney bridge.