• Article Photo. There is a house under this tree. See it?
    There is a house under this tree. See it?
  • Article Photo. AmeriCorps members help clean up a park area in Vinton Tuesday.
    AmeriCorps members help clean up a park area in Vinton Tuesday.
  • Article Photo. This Chevy was flattened by a huge tree falling over A Avenue
    This Chevy was flattened by a huge tree falling over A Avenue
  • Article Photo. One of the tombstones near fallen trees at Evergreen Cemetery; some were damaged.
    One of the tombstones near fallen trees at Evergreen Cemetery; some were damaged.
  • Article Photo. A common sight in Vinton...
    A common sight in Vinton...
  • Article Photo. Jon Clingman's yard is now filled with large fallen trees like this.
    Jon Clingman's yard is now filled with large fallen trees like this.
  • Article Photo. Connie Ogier's landscaped garden was destroyed by the wind and falling trees.
    Connie Ogier's landscaped garden was destroyed by the wind and falling trees.
  • Article Photo. Gary DuCharme looks at his house, under 4 large trunks.
    Gary DuCharme looks at his house, under 4 large trunks.
  • Article Photo. Emma Clingman takes a break from helping her dad clear trees from their yard.
    Emma Clingman takes a break from helping her dad clear trees from their yard.
  • Article Photo. Marty Blind's grape orchard was damaged by the wind.
    Marty Blind's grape orchard was damaged by the wind.
  • Article Photo. Some property owners are dealing with multiple fallen trees in yards and on houses.
    Some property owners are dealing with multiple fallen trees in yards and on houses.
  • Article Photo. A tree leans over a house on 4th Street.
    A tree leans over a house on 4th Street.
  • Article Photo. This lily was blown from a neighboring garden to this flower-less location.
    This lily was blown from a neighboring garden to this flower-less location.
  • Article Photo. Workers assess damage at Trinity Lutheran.,
    Workers assess damage at Trinity Lutheran.,
  • Article Photo. Tree removal has been taking place all day.
    Tree removal has been taking place all day.
  • Article Photo. Marty Blind and an insurance adjuster look at his damaged car.
    Marty Blind and an insurance adjuster look at his damaged car.
  • Article Photo. This damaged house is for sale at 1012 9th Ave.
    This damaged house is for sale at 1012 9th Ave.
  • Article Photo. Fallen poles covered several city streets.
    Fallen poles covered several city streets.
  • Article Photo. Workers repair a house on north Ninth Avenue.
    Workers repair a house on north Ninth Avenue.
  • Article Photo. Workers removed damaged metal from the Schoonover building.
    Workers removed damaged metal from the Schoonover building.
  • Article Photo. Linemen repair poles and wires on Highway 218 near 4th Street.
    Linemen repair poles and wires on Highway 218 near 4th Street.
  • Article Photo. A view from inside a vehcile that has been hit by a fallen tree.
    A view from inside a vehcile that has been hit by a fallen tree.
  • Article Photo. A broken street lamp lies among fallen branches.
    A broken street lamp lies among fallen branches.
  • Article Photo. A fallen tree covers a bent stop sign on 8th Street.
    A fallen tree covers a bent stop sign on 8th Street.
  • Article Photo. A light pole leans over 8th Avenue near 8th Street.
    A light pole leans over 8th Avenue near 8th Street.

     Connie Ogier's arboretum. 

     Jon Clingman's yard full of century-old trees.

     Marty Blind's Orchards.

      The casualties of Monday's storm include more than houses and cars. Some of the things lost were the product of years, or decades of work by area residents. 

     But, says Ogier, the 2011 Vinton Women's Club Woman of the Year, all you can do is start over. Ogier was among the multitudes of Vinton residents spending time cleaning her yard on Tuesday. Her back yard once included some giant trees and a variety of flowers near a wooden archway. Almost all of it was flattened on Monday. 

     So many of Clingman's huge trees were downed at his home on West 6th Street that he will not be able to use his driveway for weeks. 

    And across the street from Clingman, Marty Blind says he probably needs to tear out his grapes and start over with a new orchard. The only tree in Blind's yard that didn't get damaged or destroyed was a dead one that had no leaves to catch the 100+ MPH winds that battered most of Vinton for more than 10 minutes while most of the city was sleeping. 

     While street crews cleared trees and brush to allow residents access to their homes, utility workers tried to restore power, and restaurant crews worked to feed a city that couldn't cook for itself for a second straight day, other residents took inventory of the damage they experienced and observed.

     "It's sad, it's really sad," said one woman who stopped to see a car flattened by a huge tree. 

     Others, however, counted their blessings. Even though several trees fell on houses with people inside, there were no injuries reported. And many people came to Vinton to help. One many showed up at the Clingman's on his motorcycle -- a stranger who said he wanted to help. 

     It will be days before every house in Vinton has electricity; weeks, perhaps, before all of the streets, alleys and sidewalks are cleared of fallen trees; months before all of the structural damage that took place in less than 15 minutes can be repaired.

    But the city has also lost scores of centuries-old trees, many of them at Evergreen Cemetery. There, some of the oldest tombstones were damaged by falling branches or trunks.