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The thunder and lightning storm with accompanying high winds rolled in shortly after noon
YOUNGSTOWN
Severe weather carrying high winds and torrential rains in some parts of the Mahoning Valley on Sunday not only brought down trees and power lines in Liberty and Brookfield township and other areas of Trumbull County, but also caused an early halt to the 2017 Thunder Over the Valley Air Show.
The Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team, scheduled to perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, the final day of the two-day show at Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, was first moved up to 1 p.m. and then finally canceled because of severe weather and low visibility, officials said.
People attending the air show were sheltered in airplane hangars until they could be safely bused to their vehicles at off-base locations.
“We had to cancel the show before we wanted to, but our first and foremost concern was safety of air show visitors and performers,” said Air Force Reserve Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr., superintendent of the 910th Airlift Wing’s public affairs office.
“We started out Sunday morning thinking we would get in a full-blown show; later in the morning, the decision was made to do a shortened show. However, just when the Thunderbirds F-16 fighter jets began to taxi out onto the runway, the thunder and lightning hit,” Barko said.
The decision to cancel the show was made between 2 and 3 p.m.
“If there is lightning within five miles of an airfield, we cease all outdoor activities. Once the storm rolled through, we got people onto buses and on their way,” Barko said.
“Canceling the show was very disappointing. We wanted to put on a show for the community, but the unknown factor, especially in Northeast Ohio, is the weather,” he said.
Radio traffic of area police and fire departments indicated a downed tree on East Taggert Street in East Palestine in Columbiana County caused injuries and brought down power lines. However, safety officials, busy dealing with storm damage, did not respond to telephone calls.
In Liberty Township in Trumbull County, wind damaged trees in the area of Logan Way and Ravine, but no injuries were reported.
The wind was severe enough along state Route 193 in Vienna Township and Liberty to cause drivers to slow down and put on their hazard lights. One limb was down across the southbound curb lane of Route 193, and storm problems were reported on Tibbetts-Wick Road.
An Ohio Edison spokeswoman said Sunday night that crews were assessing the damage and waiting for the company’s forestry crews to clear away the trees so work can progress.