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High winds cause damage across central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Knocked off its foundation, leaning, like it was about to fall over: That’s what the Garcia family’s garage looked like after strong winds course through central Indiana on Sunday.

The two-car garage along 56th Street near Lafayette Road was very badly damaged.

“I thought pretty much everything was gone and lost. But, lucky us, there’s still space to get all my stuff out.” Eder Garcia said.

A huge tree in their backyard had been no match for the strong, gusty winds in Indianapolis.

Garcia said he and his familly were not home when the tree came crashing down. They came home and saw the damage early Sunday afternoon.

The family’s new sport-utility vehicle was still inside the garage Sunday evening.

“Actually, it’s funny, because we put it inside because we thought it was going to be safe inside,” Garcia explained. “Apparently that was the only place that it wasn’t safe.” 

Not far away, near 52nd Street, News 8 told Tammy Burt about wind damage to her home. She walked outside and saw siding had blown off her house.

“This is the first time I’ve seen it,” Burt explained. “I wouldn’t have seen it if you hadn’t let me know.”  

She’s just glad no one’s hurt and the damage isn’t worse.

“I try not to take anything like this to heart,” Burt explained. “You’ve got insurance, you’ve got to use it.”: 

At 56th Street and Guion Road, a downed tree forced Indianapolis police to close some lanes for cleanup. 

“There’s no harm in going a little bit slower than normal just to get to your destination,” Officer Christopher Hepfer of the Indianapolis Metro Police Department explained Sunday. “Better to get there in one piece, your car unscathed, than hitting a tree branch, popping a tire, busting a rim.”

Back down the road, the Garcias were just happy nobody is hurt.

Eder Garcia explained they’re renting the house, and he thinks the damage might be between $10,000-$15,000.

They were thinking about buying the house, and they thought the garage needed to be redone anyway. Now they hope insurance will help out.

Sunday, the Putnam County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Office posted to Facebook about a partial building collapse in downtown Cloverdale.

According to deputies, the collapse occurred in downtown Cloverdale near the Market Street intersection with U.S. 231. This is in the area next to the Marathon gas station and the post office. The National Weather Service received a report from emergency management saying it was believed that high winds were the cause in the collapse.