Wind damage sustained at a Middletown gas station could have been worse but for the quick thinking of the owner.
On March 18, as winds reaching up to 50mph buffeted Middletown, a gas station at 572 Washington Street eventually succumbed to punishing gusts and lost its canopy. However, what could have escalated into a dangerous situation was held in check by an alert employee and the initiative of his boss.
At about 1:30 pm that afternoon, an employee of the Citgo station saw the canopy begin to sway as the winds picked up. He called the owner, Hafeez Mirza, who immediately came in, and seeing the situation for himself, made the decision to shut the station down. At 4:30 pm, the canopy came down, but thanks to the actions of Mirza, nobody was hurt and the damage was kept to a minimal.
Surveillance camera recorded the collapse and provided insight into how bad things could have been. Mirza did not just close the station for business; he cut off the power and shut down the pumps. Bill Lardi, an Asst. Building Official for the city, said the owner's decisive action prevented the possibility of an explosion.
When the canopy will be replaced is unclear, but a banner printing service can help turn the occasion into a celebration.
