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Benson area cleans up after high winds and rain

Lead Summary

by Peggy Cameron, with Associated Press
 
With winds reported near 90 miles per hour, the city of Benson is cleaning up debris, mostly tree branches, as they survey the estimated hundred trees that are down around the city.  About 1:15 a.m. the constant heat lightning gave way to a full blown severe thunderstorm, which lasted for about 45 minutes as the winds tapered off and moved out of the area.  Some homes on the fringes of Benson reported upwards of 3 1/2" of rain in the short downpour.
Many people were up in the middle of the night surveying damage and cleanup has been underway for hours.  Sirens and the buzzing of chain saws was heard throughout the morning hours.
Several large trees in the Swift County Courthouse yard are up ended.  This is the story around town as roads are continuing to be cleared.
Case IH, the city's largest employer, is mainly shut down this morning.  Power was restored to the south side of the city around 7:30 a.m.
The city's backup power is in full swing, and crews are working to fix other power issues.
Cleanup will continue in earnest today as another round of large storms is expected tonite.
Flash flooding was reported in Starbuck, Morris and Glenwood in the middle of the night, with literally several feet of water clogging streets.  Storm drains were unable to keep up with the fast and torrential rain.
(Photo by Staci Pillatzki, Benson-Facebook)
 

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