AUSTIN — Investigators have confirmed that storm damage in Central and Northeast Austin was in fact caused by a tornado.
An industrial business complex on Commercial Park Drive off Springdale Road suffered some of the worst damage Wednesday morning. Sandy Galemore and her husband Jim own the GNS Property Holdings building formerly known as Aztec Signs.
The building is now in pieces. The storm destroyed it and exposed nearly everything inside. Winds picked up a piece of wood from the business and wedged it into the wall in another building across the street. Firefighters estimate damage at $1.5 million.
Another business next door lost most of its windows. Air conditioners on the roofs of buildings at the complex fell to pieces on the street.
About a mile from the complex on Springdale Road, the same system appears to have hit a neighborhood. The roof on one home is gone. Trees were toppled over and parts of the fencing are missing.
On Commercial Park Drive near Springdale Road, strong winds completely destroyed a printing business and blew in the wall of a company at the end of the street.
"A lot of hard work in there that’s just a mess," says National Trench Safety Manager Lee Giesen.
Giesen says he has poured his heart into his work, and now they’re both in pieces.
"It’s like seeing a part of you damaged," he said, holding back tears.
The National Weather Service says the tornado’s path stretched 50 yards wide and it was on the ground for more than a mile long.
"It is impressive; definitely some strong winds over 70 to 80 miles per hour that came through here," says Paul Yura of the National Weather Service.
After touching down at the industrial park near Old Manor Road, the tornado traveled into a neighborhood by Ferguson Lane and Happy Trail.
"There is a definite path to the damage it’s not very widespread," explained Yura.
From a bird’s eye view you can see that the tornado ripped away roofs, knocked over fences, and splintered trees.
"I didn’t realize the damage until daylight like everybody else," said homeowner Michael Bennett.
While crews work to clear debris and repair the damage homeowners and businesses are staying optimistic.
"This is going to set us back; it’s not going to stop us by no means," says Giesen.
Knocked down, but not out for long, Giesen says he’ll set up a mobile office until the building’s repaired.
The storm also knocked down power lines. Austin Energy crews worked throughout the morning slowly restoring service one pole at a time.
The National Weather Service released this statement:
"Paul Yura surveyed damage along Springdale Road in northeast Austin and has determined it was caused by a tornado with a path width of 50 yards and a path length of 1.25 miles, starting near the intersection of Old Manor Road and Commercial Park Drive, and ending a few blocks west of the intersection of Sansom Road and Ferguson Lane. We still need to review damage photos for the final EF rating."
A full report is expected to be released later on Wednesday.