Extensive damage reported after storm hits Page

Woman loses arm on Lake Powell, falling trees knock out power

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A brief but violent microburst on Thursday afternoon carved a path of destruction on the Manson Mesa and injured several people on Lake Powell. 

Branches, dirt and other debris littered streets across Page after gusts knocked over more than a dozen trees in areas throughout the city. One large tree in City Park crushed a picnic table while another damaged a fence near the Desert View Elementary basketball courts. Other uprooted trees near residences on Date Street, Elm Street and Morgan Road were also spotted. 

A hangar at the Page Municipal Airport was ripped apart by the gusts, which were reported by the National Weather Service at close to 60 mph. Airport staff told the Chronicle the hangar is privately owned, but was empty at the time of the storm. No aircraft were damaged. 

On the mesa, the Chapman Mobile Home Village was perhaps most affected by the winds, with multiple homes damaged by debris and fallen trees. Two poles in the village were also destroyed when trees fell on them and caused a loss of power to the area. Todd Savage with Page Utility Enterprises said the utility had restored electricity to the neighborhood by Thursday evening, save for one home which needed further assistance from Chapman management.  

An Antelope Point Marina representative said the marina sustained minor damage to part of the docks and was also without power well into Thursday evening. Savage said the culprits were two poles owned by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority that snapped during the high winds. A joint effort between PUE and NTUA had power back up and running on Friday. 

The National Weather Service reported early Thursday morning strong thunderstorms moving in from the south and issued flash flood warnings for northern Coconino County. Severe weather warnings remained in effect throughout the weekend, but no other serious storms hit the immediate area. 

Park Service also reported serious injuries and capsized boats throughout The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Glen Canyon Public Information Officer Mary Plumb told The Chronicle that NPS dispatch was inundated with multiple emergency calls at around 1 p.m. 

One houseboat picked up by the winds and beached on a nearby shore resulted in a 60-year-old woman losing her arm. Another 57-year-old woman sustained head and hip injuries. The two were transported by members of their party back to Wahweap Marina where they were then rushed by Park Service to Page Banner Hospital. Multiple area agencies responded to calls across the lake and include the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department, Classic Aviation and Utah State Park officers. 

Dozens of other watercraft from Padre Bay to Gunsight either capsized or were severely damaged by the winds as well. One park service official called the damage “extensive” after boats were hauled back. As of Tuesday morning, the city and Park Service did not have exact numbers in terms of property damage caused by the winds.