Storm downs trees and power lines
Posted: 06.23.2011 at 11:53 PM
Fallen power line in Socastee.  / Whitney Gramling
Photo

In Socastee, witnesses say Thursday's storm moved through quickly but left plenty of evidence that heavy rain, winds, and lightning came through.

"The wind started blowing and it just got harder and harder and we thought it was going to take the house. Blowed all the rocking chairs off the front porch," said Henry Ward.

Broken trees fell into the roads and downed power lines left this community without electricity.

"That wire fell on top of the van and I thought I was going to get electrocuted but I didn't step near it," said Abraham Barillas.

"The landscaping, power poles and I don't know if any damage to the vehicles they had a lot of hail in the rain and wind," added Ward.

Miles away in Conway there was a similar scene.

"All of a sudden our lights went out, it scared us honey," said Billie Davis of Conway. "We didn't know it had hit that tree over there across the street we were glad it didn't hit my oak tree."

Thankfully no one was hurt in this storm.

After the storm came through Thursday evening about 500 Santee Cooper customers in Loris and more than 50 in Conway lost power. Santee Cooper representative Laura Varn said Thursday night getting power back to customers in Loris is taking awhile because some of the poles have to be replaced.