When I pulled into the driveway I noticed it was getting pretty windy and ominously dark all of a sudden. I went in and told Seth it looked a little funky out. No big deal. A few minutes later the power flickered. Okay, still no big deal. After a few more flickers Seth headed out onto the porch to see what was up. He yelled for me to come and see the weird clouds overhead. We watched them whip around and form into something that caused Seth to say that looks like a funnel cloud. And it really did. BUT, everything we thought we knew told us there was NO WAY.
You see, as tornadoes approach the lake they always fizzle out, and we are close to the lake so we are safe, right? Also, there was no tornado siren and for sure they would have sounded the tornado siren if we needed to get to the basement, right? So we just stood on the porch. In an instant it went from a beautiful beach day to a massive windstorm. Even my WY boy had NEVER seen winds like this before. We saw neighbors running to close windows and get inside. We still couldn't figure out why there was no tornado siren so we still just stood there, while Alyssa serenaded us from the house to GET INSIDE! And as we stood there watching the trees bending in the wind, we saw our neighbors tree completely uprooted and thrown to the ground. No signs of resistance from the tree at all. It might as well have been a feather. I guess that is when we went into HOLY CRAP mode. It got WILD for a few minutes and then the sky was a bright eerie blue again.
Everyone rushed into the streets to check on each other and assess the damage. Seth ran across the street to help when he saw smoke (just a BBQ grill) and walked right over the power lines that he didn't notice on the ground. It was a nightmare out there. They are still puzzling about exactly what happened. Lots of people report seeing a funnel cloud, but the weather experts are stumped because there was literally NO warning. I think they are officially calling it a microburst but if it looks like a tornado and acts like a tornado, well then maybe...?
Whatever you call it, it left behind a lot of damage. Since we stupidly stood and watched it we noticed that you could almost see it cutting a path through the neighborhood. Everyone had major wind but something stronger seemed to tear through and everything in it's way toppled. We feel insanely fortunate that we only lost a few branches here and there. Cars and houses were wrecked and we stood right next door and came through it unscathed. Madness!
Anyway, I am not going to be able to put this crazy ordeal into words so I will cease my attempt, but here are a couple pictures all taken right here on our block.
This is the tree we watched go over from our porch. It hit the garage and totaled two cars.
We also watched this trampoline leap the fence from the backyard to the front yard across the street from us.
4 trees uprooted in this yard.
This pine tree was at least as tall as the one still standing and so massive that both of my kids fell riding bikes last Summer and went entirely underneath it's branches. No sign of either kid or the bikes. Big tree. Gone.
It is hard to tell but this house has 3 trees pulled up and slammed right through the roof.
Same house, different view, HUGE bummer!
Of course all the commotion had our kids so riled up that they didn't get to sleep until midnight. Since the power was out we read books by flashlight....
Played dominoes and made domino towers and the number 9 to tip over since this munchkin will be 9 tomorrow.
Luckily this calmed them down because Alyssa was hysterical!
The power was still out this morning and we were basically stuck in our house because our street was covered in utility trucks and tree crews. Oh well, nothing that a good book...
And a whole lot of Legos couldn't handle.
Some other storm notes:
After 21 hours our power was restored. Some lines are still down and so some people are still without.
We drove around town today and the damage was almost entirely near the lake. So much for that whole idea that the storms always stay way west of the lake.
The other day when I was visit teaching I basically said that this month's message on preparedness and self-reliance was boring and that I didn't have much to say about it. It still isn't a message that I find super exciting, but I do have a testimony of being prepared. I was very grateful for lots of flashlights, lanterns and batteries last night. We were even able to share with neighbors who did not have any supplies. So Cheryl, sorry for my crappy message this month and know that I have been humbled and reminded how important it is to prepare.
We drove around town today and the damage was almost entirely near the lake. So much for that whole idea that the storms always stay way west of the lake.
The other day when I was visit teaching I basically said that this month's message on preparedness and self-reliance was boring and that I didn't have much to say about it. It still isn't a message that I find super exciting, but I do have a testimony of being prepared. I was very grateful for lots of flashlights, lanterns and batteries last night. We were even able to share with neighbors who did not have any supplies. So Cheryl, sorry for my crappy message this month and know that I have been humbled and reminded how important it is to prepare.
6 comments:
Wow. I thought the clouds looked pretty crazy out here too. I kept telling Doug that they were going toward each other instead of different directions but we had wind for a few minutes (nothing like that wind!) and then it was over. On the news they were saying it was all going to be over the lake and calling it the close call storm so I was really surprised today when I started seeing all the tree photos on facebook.
I agree with you if it looks like a tornado and acts like a tornado.. remember when they came in January a few years ago one of them hit the neighborhoods close to the church and that was pretty close to the lake too..
I am so glad you guys are okay and didn't get trees knocked over on you. It looks like you guys made it into a fun night.
Oh and I didn't think the message was crappy at all. Sometimes we get the same message over and over again to the point where you want to say "I get it already!" and then like you said something happens to remind us of why we get the message so much.
But it was fun just hanging out with you guys.
Wow. That's freaky! I was just thinking about you the last couple days too. I never watch the news, but I happen to turn on the news the last couple nights to catch the weather (so I can prepare for the 4th). I was paying attention when they got to your neck of the woods because we've talked about weather in our last few posts/comments. I saw that the temperatures were warm, and I was SO excited for you. Then it seemed like the next day there was possible rain headed that direction. Strange.
I can't believe all the pictures, and I can't believe you saw it happen! I would be freaking out. As for our monthy message on being prepared, that is amazing. I kept thinking, "I am terrible at this. I need to improve on this." Two huge thumbs up to you guys for the batteries and flashlights! :) I'm so glad everything turned out okay.
Wow! That is scary! I am glad that everyone is okay.
Jamie was telling me about the storm hitting her neighborhood. I can't believe the damage that was done. Thanks for posting pictures. When Jamie said it was a microburst I instantly thought of the many we had in Utah, while I lived there. Um, I think calling this a microburst would be the understatement of the century.
I'm so glad that your family is okay. I hope no one in the path of destruction was hurt. Scary stuff.
Super bad storm! Glad you're okay. I think we're dealing with weird weather everywhere this year, and yes, being prepared is about the wisest thing we can do. Glad you were able to "make lemonade" from a scary situation. I would have been hysterical, too, Alyssa - and Happy Birthday to You!!!!! Bet this is one you won't forget.
Holy tornado! That sounds like one freaky scenario to witness all that destruction first-hand. Thank goodness no damage came your way and that you all remained safe. We had a bit of that come through MN last night. My sister-in-law was on her way home from Watertown when she called me to help her find a detour. Apparently, one of those microbursts (no rain) busted through the area like nobody's business. She took pictures of downed power lines, poles, trees covering the streets. She also had pictures of buildings that were completely demolished. It's amazing that all that damage could be done in such a short time.
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