Arlington residents cleanup after microburst

ARLINGTON, Mass. (WHDH) -- Cleanup was underway Thursday after Wednesday’s powerful storms that swept through Eastern Massachusetts.

Trees were down, cars crushed, power lines were down, sidewalks were ripped up and homes were damaged after wind gusts that reached 80 miles per hour tore through Arlington. The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday that a microburst went through the city leaving major damage.

“Everything happened at the same time -- trees, branches, everything blowing down the street,” said George Ryan, who lost trees in the storm.

Richard Haven garage was destroyed while he was out to dinner for his 79th birthday.

“This is a 205 Lexus LS 430. My pride and joy. It’s just got 40,000 miles on it and I just went out to dinner and I came back and…take a look,” Haven said.

Maureen Conroy was inside her house when a tree landed on it.

“The house just shook -- like an earthquake,” said Conroy. “That’s not normal that the house shook like that.”

The high winds and torrential rain caused havoc around town. Some fallen trees ripped up sidewalks, others blocked roads. Countless vehicles were damaged.

“It seemed like a regular storm,” said Beau Tremblay, who was hit hard by the storm. “The wind just started picking up…to the point where you just couldn’t even see.”

Power was restored to all Arlington residents by Thursday evening. Officials said 35 homes in Arlington have fallen trees on them.