Wild wind whips through the New York-area downing trees, power lines

WESTWOOD, N.J. (WABC) -- High winds whipped through the tri-state area on Tuesday causing a lot of damage.

Trees fell down, power lines were sparking, and some people were left in the dark.

"I saw it explode, I saw it explode and the building started moving," said Diane Sahadin, a witness.

Sahadin was working at Tokyo Caf when she heard that explosion just up the block from her Westwood, New Jersey restaurant.

"It's scary, my heart is beating so fast, I work here, I Live next door," Sahadin said.

Residents were startled Tuesday afternoon by wind damage in what's normally a quiet town.

Police officers redirected pedestrians and drivers around the snapped utility pole and burning tree branches, giving PSE&G plenty of room to work.

"The wind was blowing crazy," said Donna Cucco, a resident. "We were losing power, I was getting my nails done and the lights kept going off."

In Rutherford, New Jersey workers cut up and carried away a downed tree that landed on a home on Vanderburgh Avenue.

And on Staten Island an uprooted tree tore apart the sidewalk and came crashing down onto Larry Cirillo's Tompkinsville home.

"I came home from visiting my mom and there was a tree on my driveway," Cirillo said. "I was a little shocked but I always said the tree was going to come down sooner or later."