Farmer escapes collapsing silo during storm

Friends, family and neighbors work to pull the roof off of Terry and Jean Schmitt's barn on Thursday after early morning storms came through the area. Strong thunderstorms moving through central Wisconsin have destroyed several barns and caused power outages. (AP Photo/The Marshfield News-Herald, Laura Schmitt )

COLBY, Wis. (AP) — A farmer who lost cows and buildings on his property near Colby narrowly escaped after a silo began collapsing around him.

Thursday’s severe thunderstorm destroyed several barns in Marathon County, including the one of Terry Schmitt’s property. Schmitt was working inside the silo when it began to shake violently. He hurried down the chute and just got out the door when the silo collapsed.

The Schmitts were able to rescue about 30 of their 50 cows from the collapsed barn. The Marshfield News-Herald says the Schmitts lost a couple other sheds on their property.

According to the National Weather Service, damage in the area was caused by straight-line winds of 70 to 80 mph.

Information from: Marshfield News-Herald, http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com