Lightning created from a bomb cyclone struck the steeple at Saron Lutheran First Presbyterian Church in Hoquiam at about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, sending nails and splintered wood flying across the road and onto church grounds.
Staff and church members feel fortunate the damage was contained.
“This could have been so much worse,” said Rev. Michelle de Beauchamp, pastor for the congregation. “The roof of our steeple took the brunt of the destruction. Thankfully no one was in the building at the time and the damage is minimal compared to what could have happened. I am also thankful that the strike missed the neighboring buildings that house businesses, low-income housing, and support our community members.”
This caused their free monthly community meal to be cancelled Wednesday night.
“We look forward to serving our neighbors each month and are disappointed that we will be unable to provide meals tonight,” de Beauchamp said. “We are also sad that Harbor Food Pantry could not safely distribute food to our neighbors due to the storm.”
Hoquiam Police Department Lt. Jeff Salstrom said 8th Street would be closed from L to N streets until Thursday.
“This is the result of a lightning strike that caused extensive damage to Saran Lutheran Church,” Salstrom said. “The lightning then travelled through the ground to the city’s water main that runs down 8th Street, blowing it out. Hoquiam Public Works had shut off the main. Fortunately, the shut off only affects one building, the Department of Licensing office. Due to the ongoing lightning, public works will not be working on the main until the storms have passed.”
After the strike, the church was cleared by fire personnel.
Dusty Pruitt of Ocean Shores posted a comment on Facebook.
“I’ve lived in Western Washington for my whole life and I never seen a thunderstorm like that,” Pruitt said. “We dodged a bullet with the whole wind event but Mother Nature made up for it for sure.”
Grays Harbor resident Millelle King said, “It was an incredible six hours of thunder.”
“I want to thank the Hoquiam Fire Department, the Grays Harbor PUD, the city of Hoquiam, Lupo Construction and Quigg Bros. Construction for helping us clean up and assess the damage,” de Beauchamp said. “Thank you to everyone in our community who have extended sentiments of support. We have been working with Lupo construction on important building maintenance for the last few years, so we are in a good position to figure out our next steps quickly and to resume normal church functions in the next few days. It will be expensive, but we are thankful that our community is coming together to support us.”
The church has been asking for donations for the more than 100-year-old church’s restoration.
Workers with John Lupo Construction Inc. clear debris.
