By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
GREAT VALLEY — No serious injuries or deaths were reported after an apparent tornado touched down in the town of Great Valley early last week, damaging homes and flattening other buildings and trees.
A Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s dispatcher said there were no apparent deaths or serious injuries due to the high winds.
Drone photos posted on Facebook of damaged areas showed a damaged home and an outbuilding destroyed at Sugartown Road and Farm to Market Road along with a hillside of trees downed by high winds. Snapped power poles could be seen laying on the ground.
Great Valley Supervisor Dan Brown told the Olean Star, “There were no serious injuries, but lots of damage. National Grid responded immediately with 10 crews and line foremen.” He said he planned to tour the area on Tuesday morning with Chris Baker, Cattaraugus County director of Emergency Services.
The Olean Star was unable to reach Baker for comment.
More than 100 homes were without power as it grew dark, but the power company crews are working as quickly as possible to restore electricity.
The Great Valley Fire Company opened its Community Center to area residents impacted by the high winds and power outage.
The area had been under high wind warnings during the afternoon as thunderstorms and high winds moved into Cattaraugus County from Pennsylvania.
The Sugartown Road and Farm to Market Road intersection was about a mile from Pumpkinville, where owner Dan Pawlowski said, “Everything is OK here. One building tipped over in the end. Pretty bad down our road at our daughter’s house. They’re all OK and house still standing
with only some exterior damage and trees and out buildings gone. They’re safe is what matters.”
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