Derecho or just a whole lotta wind?
So, here's what happened in my neck of the woods during the derecho, whatever you want to call it.
At 4:45 yesterday afternoon, the fire alarm went off in our building. We had just been talking about how the squall line was just about to us. I said, "Seriously?? Good grief. Can't we just go home?" Our director said, "Yes. Shut down and leave." So we did.
It was beautiful and sunny when I left the building...with the exception of the terrifyingly dark wall of clouds bearing down on us from the west. I was waiting at the light about halfway home (for you locals, that's the one at the intersection of Jamestown and 199), watching those clouds sweeping in. I've never seen anything like it. In the course of waiting for one stoplight, things went from sunny to dark to extremely, frighteningly dark. As I headed south down Jamestown Road, I saw the trees start to sway. A lot. At one point, the other lane was blocked by a large branch, and our lane was covered in debris. It started to rain. First a few drops, then a deluge.
I turned onto the next road in my commute and had to slow way down to cross some debris - smallish pine branches. And a good thing I did, because then a tree split and fell across the road in front of me. I probably would have been under it! So I stopped, and the guy coming the other way stopped. I put my hazards on and tried to think what to do. Was it an emergency? I didn't know the non-emergency police number to call. And that would take forever. But I had a raincoat on the back seat (I came prepared today to get drenched!), so I grabbed it, got out of the car, pulled the raincoat on, and tried...by my girly lonesome...to move the tree. Then men suddenly came flooding out of the cars (For shame, waiting for a GIRL to move it!), so I backed away and let them take care of it.
When I'd gotten out of my car, the clock display was off. When I got back into my car, the Casey-cat clock was shining brightly, so I patted the dashboard and thanked my sweet girl for making sure I wasn't under that tree!
The tree had fallen in two parts, so they shifted them both off the road. Which meant I could get home! Slowly. Over more debris. And hoping there were no trees on my house! There weren't, though the dead pine that was snapped in half during a tropical storm about 5 years ago had finally fallen over somewhat - fortunately, away from the house, and onto another tree. A big branch from something fell into the back yard, and another piece is standing like it was deliberately planted there. Other than that, no damage that I can see. Thank goodness! Oh, though the power was out. And still is. I hope it comes back on faster than it did after Hurricane Irene!!! My neighbor works for Dominion Power and had to go to work not long after I got home. His wife told their son, "Daddy has to work. We'll see him tomorrow!" I'm very appreciative for those folks who work awful hours in terrible conditions to restore our power!
I'm pretty sore today, I guess from trying to move the tree and from lifting and closing the full-length garage door. I decided I didn't want to leave my car out in the storm, in case there was hail or more flying debris. By the time I got inside after everything, I looked like I'd gone swimming.
The cats are all fine, though quite confused about why there's no light at night on. I wish I could explain it to them! I'm just glad today has been cool, so they aren't roasting in their fur coats, with no A/C!
At 4:45 yesterday afternoon, the fire alarm went off in our building. We had just been talking about how the squall line was just about to us. I said, "Seriously?? Good grief. Can't we just go home?" Our director said, "Yes. Shut down and leave." So we did.
It was beautiful and sunny when I left the building...with the exception of the terrifyingly dark wall of clouds bearing down on us from the west. I was waiting at the light about halfway home (for you locals, that's the one at the intersection of Jamestown and 199), watching those clouds sweeping in. I've never seen anything like it. In the course of waiting for one stoplight, things went from sunny to dark to extremely, frighteningly dark. As I headed south down Jamestown Road, I saw the trees start to sway. A lot. At one point, the other lane was blocked by a large branch, and our lane was covered in debris. It started to rain. First a few drops, then a deluge.
I turned onto the next road in my commute and had to slow way down to cross some debris - smallish pine branches. And a good thing I did, because then a tree split and fell across the road in front of me. I probably would have been under it! So I stopped, and the guy coming the other way stopped. I put my hazards on and tried to think what to do. Was it an emergency? I didn't know the non-emergency police number to call. And that would take forever. But I had a raincoat on the back seat (I came prepared today to get drenched!), so I grabbed it, got out of the car, pulled the raincoat on, and tried...by my girly lonesome...to move the tree. Then men suddenly came flooding out of the cars (For shame, waiting for a GIRL to move it!), so I backed away and let them take care of it.
When I'd gotten out of my car, the clock display was off. When I got back into my car, the Casey-cat clock was shining brightly, so I patted the dashboard and thanked my sweet girl for making sure I wasn't under that tree!
The tree had fallen in two parts, so they shifted them both off the road. Which meant I could get home! Slowly. Over more debris. And hoping there were no trees on my house! There weren't, though the dead pine that was snapped in half during a tropical storm about 5 years ago had finally fallen over somewhat - fortunately, away from the house, and onto another tree. A big branch from something fell into the back yard, and another piece is standing like it was deliberately planted there. Other than that, no damage that I can see. Thank goodness! Oh, though the power was out. And still is. I hope it comes back on faster than it did after Hurricane Irene!!! My neighbor works for Dominion Power and had to go to work not long after I got home. His wife told their son, "Daddy has to work. We'll see him tomorrow!" I'm very appreciative for those folks who work awful hours in terrible conditions to restore our power!
I'm pretty sore today, I guess from trying to move the tree and from lifting and closing the full-length garage door. I decided I didn't want to leave my car out in the storm, in case there was hail or more flying debris. By the time I got inside after everything, I looked like I'd gone swimming.
The cats are all fine, though quite confused about why there's no light at night on. I wish I could explain it to them! I'm just glad today has been cool, so they aren't roasting in their fur coats, with no A/C!