A large storm pounded Clinton County late Thursday night and early Friday morning, producing what weather experts refer to as a “micro-burst” that left a path of damage in parts of the county.

That same storm system is also being blamed for likely producing a lightning strike at Grider Hill Dock early Friday morning that resulted in a fire at the marina that destroyed a section of the dock and six vessels that were moored in that area.

The storm left trees and debris scattered across Beaty Creek Road in the Maupin Community bringing out the Clinton County Road Department in the early morning hours Friday.

Road crews worked for several hours cutting and removing trees that blocked the roadway.

Matthew Kerney, who lives on Beaty Creek Road, was found helping his neighbors, Larry and Jean Beaty, Friday morning as winds ripped through their property.

“It was right around 12 or 12:30 when I started hearing the wind. Stuff was hitting the house and everything,” Kerney said. “I do want to thank the electric company for getting the power back on. They were a blessing.”

Kerney was just one of many residents who was without power for a good portion of the night, but South Kentucky RECC managed to return power to those residents by 3 a.m.

“The Lord blessed us,” Kerney said. “My camper got pushed off of its jacks and stuff like that. We are very fortunate.”

Kerney said the only real damage done was a calf killed during the storm. Other than that, he said nobody was injured.

“It was a blessing from God,” Kerney said. “All that stuff can be built and bought back, but lives can’t be replaced.”

Lonnie Scott, Emergency Management Services Director, told the NEWS Monday morning that it was confirmed a microburst had ripped through the Beaty Creek Community Thursday night.

“On Saturday, Tom Johnstone, of the Nashville Office of Weather Service came up and looked at the track and the amount of damage, and the path that it took and his determination was, when he left here, that it was a microburst,” Scott said. “It was basically straightline winds in excess of 80 miles per hour. It was pretty much confined to that one area.”

Scott said Johnstone looked at his radar in Nashville, TN. and determined the microburst came through at 11:35 p.m. Thursday night.

A microburst is a small, very intense downdraft that descends to the ground resulting in a strong wind divergence. Many microbursts are capable of producing winds of more than 100 miles per hour. The life span of a microburst is around five to 15 minutes.

The storm also caused an electrical storm to produce lightning that struck Grider Hill Dock. Six small vessels were completely destroyed in the fire.

The Albany Fire Department got the call Friday morning and firefighters worked for several hours to keep the fire contained.

“It took almost two and a half hours to get it contained,” Albany Fire Chief Robert Roeper said. “That is really the only thing you can do in a situation like that, keep it contained, and we did.”

The fire was suspected to be caused by lightning that struck somewhere near the boats that caught the dock on fire.

“We got it to where it won’t spread to any of the other areas,” Roeper said.

Albany’s fire department wasn’t the only fire department lending a helping hand. The Suzie Fire Department brought 13 firefighters and two trucks to Clinton County to man the fire station while Albany fire fighters were on the scene at Grider Hill Dock.

“We really want to thank them for coming down,” Roeper said.

With spring time just around the corner, storm season has already begun and with the spring weather could bring tornado producing storms that can cause great damage and possibly take the lives of those in its path.

“The big thing is to get a weather radio. All of the television stations do a pretty good job of keeping up with the weather,” Scott said. “Of course, you always need to go to a basement or shelter or even an interior room.”

On Tuesday, March 8, 2011, the State of Kentucky will have a statewide tornado drill. Sirens will be tested around 9:07 a.m.

Students at all schools in Clinton County will also be subject to these drills, in order to prepare for tornado season.

Preparing for a tornado or violent storm is something families should do together.

Setting a plan in place is very important when a damaging storm hits. When your plan is in place, share your plan with relatives, friends or someone you know in order for emergency personnel to be able to locate you and your family quickly during a disaster.

“If you always go to a back corner and the house falls in around you, people will know where to start looking,” Scott said.

Keep a survival kit stocked. A survival kit should include a first aid kit and essential medications, canned food and can opener, at least three gallons of water per person, protective clothing, rain wear, and bedding or sleeping bags. The kit should also include battery-powered radio, flashlights and extra batteries, waterproof matches, candles and a local phone book. Also in the kit should be an extra set of car keys, special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.

Family vehicles should maintain at least a half tank of fuel and an emergency kit would be helpful to place inside a vehicle.