Last night we were hit by a fast moving storm. They were saying BEFORE it hit us that it had gusts of around 50mph. That’s like, go get the trashcans in, and make sure the lid on the sandbox is tied down, etc. So we did. Then as we are getting the our shit blown away, they’re saying on the TV how the storm is producing 75 mph gusts. Thanks for the warning! We had no time to get the dogs in to safety, but they are OK, although they looked like drowned rats last night.
It sounded like the house was going to splinter into pieces. When we ran to the basement water started pouring in from the wall between the house and garage. It seems some of our shingles lifted up higher than the flashing on the garage roof. (My sister says, “Now your insulation is all wet.”) Some little garden fencing was ripped out of the ground and blown away. The lid of the Little Tykes sandbox which was tied down with a bungy cord was blown off and the toys are scattered, some are gone. It blew the plastic covers off of our deck lighting. Our hose cart that has two hoses wound on it was 10 feet from where we left it, perpendicular from the way the wheels would have let it move. Part of me wishes that I could have seen all of that flying around, but with the sound it was making as it hit the house, I don’t think it would have been very safe to stick my head out there.
Hey, but we’re happy. That’s not too bad for that much wind. Our real fence is standing, I need to check to see how well for sure still. Our house is standing, and most of the roof is still in place. The dogs are Ok and we are fine.
Do you get the impression that the “hurricane belt” doesn’t have a lot of symnpathy?
I guess the residents in and near KC (which KC?) found it interesting when a “tornado” hit downtown Miami last year, too? (Of course, that “tornado” was so palty it would have gotten barely a notice in your part of the country.)
Again, I hope that everyone’s OK.
This stuff happens all the time here in Colorado. I’m not sure of the exact mph, but I’m pretty sure we get 3-4 storms a year with the wind speed about 75 mph. Not to mention all the ‘little’ storms where it’s not quite as high as 75 mph, but high enough to scatter anything you’ve left outside.
You pretty much get used to not ever leaving stuff out. Probably the biggest hassle is the umbrellas on the patio furniture. They have to be removed when not in use and stored in the garage, or bungied against the house or a tree. Simply putting them down doesn’t do anything, and if you leave 'em up I’m pretty sure your patio furniture would fly away.
Now, see tornados I can handle. You either live or die and then you pick up the pieces, but most importantly the sirens are going off so you know that you’re supposed to be scared.
When we used to live in the Ozarks we only had to put something like a heavy stick on the sandbox to keep the lid on. That worked for everything but tornadoes. When we moved here we had to start tying things down regularly because we get 50 mph without even a storm. We can’t even keep a doormat outside, it always goes to the neighbor’s 2 doors down. Welcome sign? That’s hanging indoors now. (Those wicked Kansas winds coming off of the plains.) This was definitely different.
SouthernStyle, it hit both sides of the state line. Actually, I think Kansas is still having some power outage, well they were early this morning.
We had the same horrific storm last night - and lost a decent-sized tree as a result. A 20’ maple went crash.
We know when it happened. We were listening to the storm, and the wind was howling. Then all of a sudden, there was this scary sound of a low, powerful moan that we both had never heard before. It sounded like an incredible rush of air. After 2 seconds of it, we heard “crack!” and knew that a tree had gone down. The wind stopped after about 10 seconds, and then the storm continued as normal.
Overall, our house is very sturdy and doesn’t creak, moan, or complain even in the worst storms. Don’t know why, cause our previous house you could see the walls move in some storms. Ours now is like a rock.
I was watching Princess Bride when the electricity went out. Can you believe the NERVE? Power going out right as Westley is rising off the bed. Anyway, I read a book by candlelight until power was restored. Est. Time, 1:30 till 2:20 or so.
