July 16, 2024 Tornado
The Garnet Lake Community, Six Months After the July 16, 2024 Tornado
by Steve Thomson
It was six months ago that a freak storm blasted through the Garnet Lake community from the Southwest at around 5:30 pm on July 16. Moving swiftly and erratically, the high winds lasted only 15 or 20 minutes but wreaked significant damage to properties on both sides of the lake, toppling and snapping not only 3-4 foot diameter shallow-rooted white pines but mature oaks, birches, maples, and ash. The carnage blocked both Cross Road and Garnet Lake Road (east side of the lake) from the dam and downed numerous power and fiber optic lines which would not be fully restored for several weeks. Trees fell on structures at the Corwin, Parker, Fraleigh and Thomson properties on the Cross Rd. side of the dam, and on the Borden Cottage and home of Mara Ginsberg and Jeffrey Pohl on the east side of the lake. Many other properties faced significant tree removal expenses and some woodlots and vacant properties became blowdown zones. The storm raced up Ross Mountain Road causing long term forest damage and there were significant blowdowns behind the properties on the east side of the lake as well. Thankfully human life was spared and nobody was injured.
The Garnet Lake Community pulled together quickly and cohesively to assist neighbors, and clear public roads. The Parkers coordinated an initial clearing of Cross Road from Manning’s to Parker’s allowing vehicular traffic on the public portion of the road. The din of chainsaws that began that evening after the storm had passed did not cease during the daylight hours for several weeks. Tree services, the Town of Johnsburg Highway Department, National Grid and utility companies from as far away as Minnesota converged on Garnet Lake, Chestertown, and Route 28 near the Tumblehome Boat Shop in the ensuing days to address the infrastructure damage and residents sought out tree and building contractors to begin the extensive cleanup and repairs which are still ongoing. There were numerous offers of housing, internet service, and just plain empathy from great neighbors on and near the lake enabling progress to be made on many fronts in the last days of July and early August. And, of course, many property owners were consumed with arranging for tree removal, insurance claims, and building contractors as well as the constant hauling of branches and logs well into the autumn months.
Observing from cross country skis on the lake on January 12, 2025, the storm track and long-lasting boreal scars are still evident. However, great progress has been made in restoring homes and outbuildings, and clearing properties. Some homes, while missing large swaths of deciduous and evergreen landscaping, are now more visible from the lake and are ready for the next generation of new plantings to again frame the view of our beautiful lake in the future. While winter has temporarily slowed some of the restoration activity on the lake, spring will see the return of work crews and the emergence of property owners to assert their creativity in making something better out of this weather disaster. In all of it, we can more fully appreciate what we have in our natural local environment and our cooperative human community.
From Diane Burgess
Hi I saw the email about sending you photos. I took a lot in part in anticipation of insurance claims. Here are some. They’re all of the Corwin property at 75 Cross Rd on second weekend after the storm. The shed that was destroyed is up by the road, it had been there since we bought in about 1998, I think it had been there since probably the 1940s. The rest are down by the lake.
Thanks for organizing this!
Elizabeth Corwin
From Diana Friedell