108
mile-per-hour winds flattened vast areas of pristine mature forest
and devastated resorts and villages just as Winter ski season
began. As many trees were blown down in this single storm as
the entire Slovak logging industry cuts in a whole year.
Countless structures were damaged
by the high winds, airborne debris and toppling trees.
Downed
trees smothered homes, choked roadways and covered rail lines.
Until crews could cut their way through, many towns remained
completely isolated.
Metal
roofs were ripped from buildings and hurled dangerously into
others like crumpled paper.
Resorts
once shrouded in dense, lush forest were left exposed with only
the tiniest of saplings left standing.
