Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Well, with that heatwave that we had in the Chicagoland area for the past week, the rush of the cold front it clashed with last night was nothing less than amazing.
We had an electrical storm for 6 hours and for 3 of those hours, it was pouring down rain. The wind hit 80 miles and hour and (I live in an unincorporated suburb of Chicago) uprooted 250 year old oak and elm trees. The tallest trees on our street had the tops sheared off and a lot of homes were hit with flying trees branches, etc. So far, from the neighbors that I have talked to this morning, there are 10 houses with tree/storm damage, 13 cars and 5 garage/sheds. That's just on my street, mind you.
The Elm tree in our neighbors yard (it was about 200 years old) had one whole side of it ripped off and thrown into the yard...it missed our deck by a few feet and their house by a few feet, as well.
The neighbor across the street had THREE trees uprooted (and the root system was about 6 feet in diameter) and every single tree (except the one that rotted out, LOL) was annihalated.
The absolute amazing thing? The biggest damage to our house was the wind blowing our flag pole over. We had 3 cars and a boat sitting in our driveway and nothing happened to any of them. Our birch tree is bent over, but not cracked, so I have to go out and rope it up today and a new birch tree is completely laying on the ground, but it's not broken. Our yard has lots of clutter from other trees, but all of our trees are standing and the few glass lawn ornaments that we had out are shattered on the patio.
Our power went out at about 9:00pm last night and didn't come back on until 10am (of course, I jump right on SW...if that's not an addiction).
Everything is good, and I am standing here so grateful to have our home get through this storm with no damage.
I'll post pics later.
Ta-ta for now!
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Oh, a little heartwarming addition:
2 of our cats were outside for the first half of the storm...we could hear them calling, but we couldn't find them and it wasn't safe for us to be out looking for them. We kept the sliding door cracked open slightly so we could hear them, but after a while, the storm was so intense that we had to close the door.
Our one cat, Toones, came in soaking wet about 2 hours after the storm started. I dried her off and as she sat warming up, she popped her head up and bolted throughout the rest of the house. We have four cats total and when she discovered that one of the cats was still outside, she was insistant to go back out. I was hesitant to let her out, but Joe opened the door and she took off at full speed outside.
We didn't hear anything for over an hour, but all of the sudden, Toones shows up at the door with the "lost" Tigerlily. Although Tigerlily was soaked to the bone and frazzled, they were fine.
I couldn't believe that my one cat went back into the storm to get the other cat. It amazing what friendship does...
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by VenusGoddess
We didn't hear anything for over an hour, but all of the sudden, Toones shows up at the door with the "lost" Tigerlily. Although Tigerlily was soaked to the bone and frazzled, they were fine.
So she WASN'T a stripper.... she was a CAT.
I KNEW IT.
Anyways, glad you're ok. And we both know this was just you using your powers of weather control you witch. :D
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by VenusGoddess
Oh, a little heartwarming addition:
2 of our cats were outside for the first half of the storm...we could hear them calling, but we couldn't find them and it wasn't safe for us to be out looking for them. We kept the sliding door cracked open slightly so we could hear them, but after a while, the storm was so intense that we had to close the door.
Our one cat, Toones, came in soaking wet about 2 hours after the storm started. I dried her off and as she sat warming up, she popped her head up and bolted throughout the rest of the house. We have four cats total and when she discovered that one of the cats was still outside, she was insistant to go back out. I was hesitant to let her out, but Joe opened the door and she took off at full speed outside.
We didn't hear anything for over an hour, but all of the sudden, Toones shows up at the door with the "lost" Tigerlily. Although Tigerlily was soaked to the bone and frazzled, they were fine.
I couldn't believe that my one cat went back into the storm to get the other cat. It amazing what friendship does...
I was driving through Coral Gables and a Golden Retreiver bolted across the road. I was at a light, and worried that, had traffic not been stopped, this dog would have been dead.
You know what? That dog crossed the street the other way, followed by a smaller dog who was apparantly stuck and scared to get to the other side.
BTW, you sure that tree wasn;t an Ent. They don't like to be called trees you know.
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
The most amazing thing about your whole story is that you named your cat Toones. :D
Glad your and yours are okay. I guess Snork Lovers are lucky.
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
^ LOL...her "given" name was Tenshi...but it somehow merged into Toones.
The four cats are: Grey Girl (Miele), Raven, Tigerlily, and Toones (Tenshi).
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Wow thats scary the trees came that close to your house and cars. Its really cute that the other cat went out the find the other in a crazy storm like that. Glad youre ok :)
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
We had part of that storm up here... we had hail warnings and all that fun stuff, it knocked our power out for a few seconds and it came back on. The wind was insane, my bike ended up knocked over and somehow moved across my balcony lol. Glad to hear you guys pulled through ok and your kitties are ok :D We didnt get the storm nearly as bad as you.
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Oh yep, pics please.
This post reminds me of the e-mail I got from my brother after a set of tornadoes ripped up the Nashville TN area not too long ago. He titled it "I think I am still alive." "Vol State is F*CKED! Gallatin is tore up." Of course, your wording is more elegant...LOL
The cat story also reminded me of the many noble things I have seen cats & dogs do....
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Wow what a storm! Glad you guys are all right. I've seen the odd animal rescue or take care of another.
Tenshi in Japanse translates into angel.
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
^ Yes, it is why we named her that. She is truly an angel. ;)
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Ok...here are some pics...
The first pic is of our, now crooked, flag pole...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Dsc01486.jpg
This is the tree in our backyard...it was a very sturdy elm...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Dsc01474.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Dsc01473.jpg
This is our neighbor's house directly across the street from us. The neighbor's tree split at the base and it landed on the neighbor's house. There is, so far, minimal damage, but we'll see how much damage there is after the tree is cut down.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Dsc01488.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Dsc01487.jpg
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
This neighbor suffered extensive damage to the house. A full branch pierced the roof, so they have, not only roof damage, but pretty extensive water damage inside, as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Dsc01489.jpg
This is the root of the tree that was uprooted...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Dsc01490.jpg
This neighbor had this HUGE Evergreen in front of the house...the top of the Evergreen was just sheared off...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Dsc01491.jpg
And, this is our little Angel, Toones (Tenshi)...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Dsc01495.jpg
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Holy Shit! When you said flying trees I was thinking bending, waving. They were FLYING!!!!! Thank God no one was hurt...... including little Toones.;D
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
I'm glad everything is fine with you guys!
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
Dear Scorpio,
Next time, Just let her win the game...
Mast.
P.S. Glad you're ok.
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!
^ ROTFL
haahaa
Thanks everyone. There were no personal injuries that I've heard of, just building/vehicle damage, so it's all good!!!
Re: Holy Flying Trees, Batman!!