Derecho

Hello, My Friends!~~

Here in the Washington, DC area we learned first hand a new meterological vocabulary word: derecho.

A derecho is a long-lived straight line of intense thunderstorms. The derecho that hit the DC area began in Chicago about 2 pm on Friday afternoon and slammed into my neck of the woods at 10:30 pm with the ferocity of a runaway freight train. Winds topped 90 mph. We immediately lost power and didn't get it back for 56 hours and of course we are having a heat wave with temps hitting 100 degrees and high humidity--gross.

Our life changed into a quest for places to get on-line, to charge phones and i-pads, to get food and air conditioning, to get ice, and just to cope. We did well and counted ourselves fotunate that the destruction barely tapped our house  but really wrecked havoc in the rest of our neightborhood...

The maple tree over my new Subaru had a few broken branches but my car was spared. We saw quite a few smashed cars nearby, just crushed beneath fallen trees.

The park at the end of our street lost quite a few very large trees including a gorgeous willow oak.

About 5 large trees came down next to each other.

The root balls were huge!

This one left a massive crater of white clay soil.

The path through the park was completely blocked. Bikers who ci=ommute through here can no longer do so until the parks dept clears the way.

And just a couple of blocks down the street...

Our friends and neighbors had a massive oak tree smash their living room and dining room, making the house unliveable. The tree was removed pretty fast. No one was hurt and the mom of our friends lives next door so they are staying there.

Driving around this weekend and even still proves to be challenging. Some traffic lights are still out, most were out this weekend, and trees still block the way...

Crews work dilegently.

Can't get through here.

Can barely get by here and careful to avoid the down power lines.

This house was spared but so many were not. The destrcution is the worst I have ever seen in the area and we have had a couple of hurricanes blow through, one tornado, and a blizzard. Over 1 million people in the area were without power but that number is steadily falling.

We count ourselves very fortunate and pray the rest of the folks in the area will get their lives and homes back to normal very very soon.~~~XXOO, Beth

Comments

[Debra Ganas]

I was wondering how you fared. I have been checking your blog for a few days. So glad to hear everything is okay.
Sad so many lovely mature trees went down.
Debra

[Renee]

Thinking of you and hope you are able to get a cool breeze soon. It was so fierce and the pictures show it. Sorry to see the damage but glad you are okay. Smiles...Renee

[Priscilla G]

I am so sorry to hear the news and see the pictures of your hometown. I am, however, glad that you are safe. Take care and I hope for better weather for you soon!

[laurie magpie ethel]

I was watching the news tonight and heard the word derecho for the first time. Sounds like quite a crazy storm. Glad you fared reasonably well compared to others...those pictures are insane.

[Shara]

I am glad that you are safe and hopefully things will get better quicker. We had a huge ice storm a few years back that looked a lot like your area - trees down, caved in rooftops and cars smashed. I must say, as bad as it was, I am glad it was during the cold, because I do so hate the heat. I bet you were miserable!

[Ruth]

Wow, very dramatic storm. I am glad to hear you are ok. I hope things work out well for all the folks who's homes were damaged, I also hope no lives were lost.

[Musings from Kim K.]

Yikes. I've been wondering how you were doing. Those pictures are unbelievable. I'm so glad you are ok. Thinking of you and all of those who were effected. Hugs.

[Melody]

Hi Beth! We too were hit by the storm at 4p. I was outside in sunshine..went down to my house, 1 acre away, came back up to Mom and Dad's, went in for some water for a planter..it was breezy and cloudy....turned from the planter to see what I thought was a wall of water coming up the small valley where my house sits. Not water..wind...very fast wind and as I looked up before entering the back door I saw limbs spiriling not coming straight. Spent Sat. cleaning up debris and trees. We were in a huge tornado in 73' that went over our house from one hillside to the next and missed our culdesac by going over and it sure looked the same last Fri., but no they say...fine. So glad all is well with you.

[Cindy Is Crafty]

Glad you fared well, Beth! It hit here in Central Va, but not as severly as there. We lost power for only 7 hours. I feel sorry for the people that still do not have power. They showed some people on the news last night that were sleeping in their truck with the air on as their house was too hot. Wow!

[Leslie]

I'm so glad you're okay. No fun though coping with the after effects. Hope they get it cleared away soon and power is restored.Hang in there!