ARIZONA
Dust storm rips Phoenix area
PHOENIX — Crews cleaned up downed trees and got electricity mostly restored for thousands of people on Aug. 26 after a powerful dust storm roared through the Phoenix area.
The wall of dust towering hundreds of feet high dwarfed the city’s neighborhoods. Called a haboob, the wind-driven phenomenon blackened skies and initially knocked out electricity for 55,000 customers on the afternoon of Aug. 25.
Drenching rain followed. Flights came to a halt at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, where material from a terminal roof blew onto the tarmac. Contractors worked through the night to repair roof damage, airport spokesperson Jon Brodsky said…