‘Bolted awake’: Seward residents wake up to damage from Saturday’s severe storm

SEWARD, Neb. (KLKN) — The people of Seward woke up to a morning they won’t forget.

Saturday’s early morning storm knocked out power for hundreds, blocking roads and leaving a trail of damage across the city.

“The rumble of the straight line winds was amazing, the velocity just made it super loud,” said longtime Seward resident, Brent Royuk. “It’s like when people are in tornadoes, they talk about how it’s like a freight train.”

Some people said they woke up to loud bangs and thuds from trees falling over their heads.

“Two of our trees are down, they hit our house, damaged our roof, hit our neighbors house,” said Frank Dalaey.

Neighbors said they expect the cleanup to take several days, but not without a few extra hands.

“We’re in the process of cleaning up, but there’s just neighbors helping neighbors,” Dalaey said.

Even some college football players from Concordia University stepped in to help.

“Coach Daberkow is really big on serving out in the community,” freshman Trenton Brice said. “I think these last couple of days in fall camp we really learned how important that can be.”

The players said they want to show the community that they can step up on and off the field.

“If I was in one of these houses and this damage was done to me I would love have people come over and help me,” said freshman Levi Sherman. “That’s just where my heart came from.”