Madera residents see aftermath of windstorm

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Residents of Madera are still assessing the damage from a windstorm that wreaked havoc across the city Friday.

Sightseers were in awe of the damage at Madera Courthouse Park , the massive windstorm downed trees across the valley and the park is closed because of it.

Many residents snapped a couple pictures of the aftermath Saturday. Helen Flores says she was capturing a little bit of history.

"I've lived in Madera all my life, and I can't believe these trees are gone," she said. "It's so sad."

Resident John Perez was doing the same thing. He says he tried taking pictures of flying branches during the storm Friday but a sheriff's deputy told him he needed to leave, but now he sees why he was ushered away.

"I was really surprised as I made the right turn, and I said 'oh my god these trees are really old,'" he said.

Nearly 40 mile per hour winds threw trees into houses and cars, even knocking out power in some neighborhoods. And close to a dozen trees fell inside the park that is currently marked with caution tape.

The Madera Police Department says it is there for a reason.

"There's probably about 8 to 10 trees down, so they just want to get everything cleaned up," Sgt. Daniel Foss of the Madera Police Department said. "They don't want people climbing through the branches. They're already brittle, they don't want people running through and getting themselves hurt."