] Belmar was in the midst of an idyllic summer night at
] 7:50 p.m. Tuesday. Families gathered on large, wraparound
] porches. One man sat at a table paying bills in his 12th
] Avenue home. A thunderstorm rumbled in the distance.
]
] Three minutes later, chaos reigned.
]
] At 7:53 p.m., with the sky an ominous shade of gray,
] winds grew in strength, lifting patio furniture into the
] air. Large trees soon bent to the breaking point. Then
] came the funnel-shaped cloud that sent people scrambling
] for safety. Destruction -- quick and brutal -- followed.
]
] By the time the storm had passed, at least 25 homes had
] sustained damage -- some of it extensive. At least a
] half-dozen cars were smashed. Two utility poles were
] ripped from the ground, and about 45 trees were either
] downed or suffered serious damage.