Local
High winds leave trees blocking Mesa apartment entrance, damage cars and park
Residents across Mesa cleared debris Wednesday after powerful straight-line winds toppled trees Tuesday night. Fallen trees crushed parked vehicles and blocked the main entrance to one apartment complex, while debris also scattered across a church property, a barbershop area and Quail Run Park.
MESA, Ariz. — Residents and workers across Mesa spent Wednesday, Oct. 21, cleaning up after strong winds the previous night snapped trees, damaged parked cars and left debris along roads and public spaces.
Near University Drive, neighbors reported hail and heavy rain accompanying the storm. Debris remained along Gilbert Road Wednesday, with damage reported at apartment complexes, Grace United Methodist Church, Quail Run Park and a barbershop on North Gilbert Road.
At the Delano Apartments, renter Greg Heaps said trees fell around his home and crushed parked cars. One tree was tangled around the frame of a truck outside his apartment. Heaps described rain followed by what he called “howling winds,” adding that the conditions led some people to wonder whether a tornado had passed through.
At the nearby Talise Apartments, a fallen tree blocked the entrance from the main road, leaving residents with a single usable way in and out. The complex’s other exit was under construction, resident Bella Chavez said.
“There’s only one way to exit and one way to enter,” Chavez said. She said the blocked entrance created a serious access problem for residents.
South along Gilbert Road, fallen trees and large branches covered parts of Grace United Methodist Church’s backyard. City crews also found trees down across Quail Run Park, including on its soccer field.
Workers at Palenque Barbershop and nearby businesses found tree debris around the North Gilbert Road site Wednesday. Alan Lopez, who works at the barbershop, said he saw damaged walls and signs of hail. He said a large piece of tree appeared to have blown from behind the building.
Residents also noticed branches and tree sections that appeared to come from elsewhere, underscoring the force of the winds. The storm’s damage left cleanup underway at homes and neighborhood spaces across the city.