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ARLEE- The lingering effects of last week's big storm can still be found with snow still piled up in the center of many roads, and there is still enough of the white stuff in alleys to keep some cars stranded.

For Arlee homeowner Michael Wieler, last Thursday was not a good one.

"Well, this mess was my workshop."

That mess is a direct result of nearly a foot and a half of snow that weighed down on Weiler's workshop, until the workshop could take no more. Michael says he was in Billings when he received the call from his wife.

"She told me that she heard creaking, and she actually thought someone was breaking into the shop, so her and my youngest son checked and sure enough, it was starting to collapse."

The building, which was built 10 years ago, has weathered many wind and snow storms so Weiler said he wasn't concerned about a collapse.

"We had 18 inches of heavy wet snow around six years ago, and that was the only time I was concerned about it, and I went out to check on it a few times and it just slid off."

Wieler's shop wasn't the only casualty suffered because of the big snow with insurance agent Darby South saying that his office has been busy. "I have directly, due to the weight of the snow, received three claims."

He says this is the most claims related to one snow event that he's seen in his 20 years on the job and points out that there are signs to look for if you believe your roof may be in trouble

"If you notice any sagging issues, if you notice any leaking, if you have some creaks, a lot of times if the door jams, if the doors are tight to open and shut, that can mean you've got some weight issues on the roof."

South suggests that's probably a good time to get an expert involved to get a closer look.
Michael Wieler says he'll be replacing his workshop in the near future, and that he'll be very selective of what he gets, in the hopes that this won't happen again

Wieler said while losing his workshop is an inconvenience, he's just thrilled no one was hurt in the collapse.

Contact Russ Thomas