ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Many people throughout the Capital Region had experienced the power of Thursday’s thunderstorms. NEWS10 took to the streets to check in with how people were doing in the aftermath. Just about 5:30 p.m. a major storm blew through the Capital Region and there was debris lying on the sidewalks, in the roads, on top of cars, buildings have collapsed, the storm was powerful.
“There was a very sudden microburst storm, high winds, pretty heavy rain,” said the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, David Galin.
And the damage through the city was evident. “I never thought that would happen I didn't it scared me thank God nobody got hurt,” said Albany resident Baazil Tolbert.
But it did happen and as you can see this car was trapped under wires and a tree. “This is my father's vehicle. He came down to see the family from North Carolina. Then the storm hit, and it crashed into my father's vehicle. Thank God it was a rental,” said Tolbert.
He tells me moments before the tree coming down his family had just made plans to head out in this car. “I was right there in my second-floor apartment building we were just hanging out. Until we heard the Thunder crash and then boom, I heard a smack towards the window we were about to head out to go get some pizza next thing you know the whole tree from right there just smacked there and hit the whole car right then in there it was Unreal,” said Tolbert.
As we headed through the streets of the city there were signs of destruction on almost every block. Fire trucks blocking roadways, emergency vehicles everywhere. We headed down to the warehouse district because we learned a building’s roof had collapsed and it took out the fourth floor, possibly the floors below.
“At least one partial building collapse and then we're investigating a few other reports of some property damage across the city,” said Galin.
Even though the storm is over, Galin says to stay alert and stay away from the downed wires. “If you come across the wire Don't Go Near it don't touch it if you see a fire or an accident, call 911 but if you have a report of a Down tree then we'd like you to call Department of General Services at (518) 427 - 7480.”
The city shut down Alive at 5 because of the microburst and some injuries. “Preliminarily, it sounds like a few people were near some of the tents that were blowing around. But again, nothing major, nothing serious. We just canceled the Alive at 5 out of abundance of caution for everyone involved,” said Galin.
Even the historic Ten Broeck Mansion property wasn't spared, the site will be closed for the next five or six days due to the damage surrounding the property.
