WHIRLWIND AT OMAIO

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 3, 11 September 1942, Page 5

WHIRLWIND AT OMAIO

PATH OF DESTRUCTION

(>NK house wrecked

With a deafening roar a terrific whirlwind swept up from the sea at Omaio on Thursday night at about 7 o'clock, leaving a trail of destruction behind it. Crossing the strip of beach, it lifted huge logs as if they were matchwood and piled them against a bank. A four-room-cd house which stood directly in the path of the whirlwind was lifted bodily and scattered in small pieces far and wide over the settlement. Even the chimney was wrecked and the bricks strewn about Avith th rest of the debris, while piles wcr torn from the ground. The hous was owned by Mr Moana Hurai, an it was very fortunate that at th time of the storm it was unoccu pied. The tenant had moved ou just before. The next house in the pathway of the whirlwind was a dwell ins occupied by Mrs Peterson and twe young children, Mr Peterson, being in military camp. A high hedge ir front of the house was badly wrecked, and no doubt afforded some measure of protection to the house The roof however was torn off, anc; it was fortunate for the occupants that the rest of the house was lefl standing. Mrs Peterson had the presence of mind to extinguish the lamp when she heard the whirlwind approaching and this no doubt saved the possibility of an outbreak of fire. She was, however, unaware of the extent of the damage done, and consequently went to bed. only to receive a drenching from the torrential downpour of rain which followed shortly after.

Further along its course the whirlwind demolished an outbuilding and a cream stand and made for the