Midwest Hurricane!

[Rchop]

We had a very rare weather event here today. There was a very strong low pressure system that moved through the area. The core of the low was preceeded by a long line of severe thunderstorms followed by a "hook" shaped storm rotating counterclockwise. This hook actually had a clear eye in the center of the low. As the winds were drawn into the center of the low from as far away as neighboring states, they rotated into a tighter and tighter counter clockwise spiral. This gave the storm sustained winds of 60 to 80 mph with gusts to 100. We were looking out front at the rotating clouds when Deb asked if there was a jet plane overhead! That was the wind out of the South, the front line of the low was just reaching us, we headed for the basement. The most damage was done as the back edge crossed over with the winds out of the Northwest. We lost some shingles, siding and trim, but the worst damage was done to some of our big magnificent trees behind the house. My favorite 60 ft maple is in pieces as well as many other of our weathered giants. The whole event lasted about an hour.

Thank God our family and home are OK and we're praying for the saftey of our friends an neighbors. Many trees are down and homes damaged, we're running on the generator, probably for a few days.

I'll post some pics when the power comes back.

[DarthRider]

WOW Randy...glad you guys are OK!
Sorry about your trees & other damages but that can be fixed, you guys maybe not.
How did little Ruffus handle the big Ruckus?

[Rchop]

Thanks Dave, you're right, the material stuff doesn't mean much as long as the family is OK. Scared the pants off of Rufus...me too!

[mnnden]

Randy, I am happy to hear you are all OK, I know what you are going through, and it is not pleasant, These Midwest storms can sometimes come out of nowhere. You and your family will be in our thoughts. Den

[Deans BMW]

Randy, wow. Glad to hear that you are OK.

[fganger]

Randy lad,

I do recall some of the storms which went through the area in which you live. Having gone to school less than 125 miles South of where you live I do have some experience with them - and they can be REALLY BAD.

I'm glad you now have the experience without the pain - try and be sure to keep it like that. I couldn't stand it if I didn't have a place to stay the next time I travel through. :pftroest:

Stinkin' Frank

[1MPH]

Randy, glad the family is okay.
Shame about the trees, but being the farmer you are I'm sure you will grow new and better ones. :eusa_clap:

[Rchop]

Thanks guys, it's pretty much over for us, but alot of folks will need help in the next few days. I can make the necessary repairs here and we have standby power. I haven't heard of any injuries yet, but alot of property damage. I will be puting a new chain on the saw in the morning and head to town to try to help where I can. We have to stay off the streets tonight with a crufew.

The local meteorologist said this was a rare type of storm that probably wouldn't happen again in our lifetime...that's a relief!

Don't worry stinkin', we will always have a place for you.

[beekstersocal]

glad you guys are alright ,i bet your house is lit up [with generator] like a b-day cake,lol ,be safe ,,,cheers

[Rchop]

Thanks Mike, I know you guys gave me a hard time in the old neighborhood for having that generator hook-up, but it was good practice for here :)

[beekstersocal]

i see that now

[Rchop]

We still don't have power, but the generator is running fine.
Thousands of utility workers have descended on the area to rebuild the system. They have a goal of restoring power to the majority of the customers in the 1000 sg. mile affected area by Wednesday morning.

The Southern Baptist disaster relief crews made up from volunteers from all over the midwest are converging on the scenes to help in the clean-up.
It is heartwarming to see neighbor helping neighbor in their time of need while the government is still filling out paperwork and doing surveys. The job will be done by the locals by the time the government finishes deciding what they will do...the way it should be. All the local churches have mobilized and we are feeding and providing shelter for neighbors in need.

Most of the injuries have been sustained during the clean-up but one of our neighbors was the only storm related fatality. George Arbeiter (87) was struck by a falling tree as he climbed up his basement stairs to see if it was safe. Godspeed George, we prayed for you and your family on Sunday.

I have my roof repaired and will finish the siding repair today. The pics below show what sustained winds in excess of 100mph did to a part of the woods behind the house that I was clearing to build a shaded deck and bar-b-que...

taken 5/3/09
http://www.frsengineering.com/woodsbefore.jpg
taken 5/11/09
http://www.frsengineering.com/woodsafter.jpg

[DarthRider]

Isn't it amazing how a disaster brings out the best in people? It was the same when we were flooded twice in 1979 at our little home in the woods on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Hang in there Randy...knowing you, your place will be even better than it was before!:eusa_clap:

[Rchop]

So true Dave, people seem to function better when left to help themselves rather than relying on a government handout.

[Elsie Smith]

...
I have my roof repaired and will finish the siding repair today. The pics below show what sustained winds in excess of 100mph did to a part of the woods behind the house that I was clearing to build a shaded deck and bar-b-que...

taken 5/3/09
http://www.frsengineering.com/woodsbefore.jpg
taken 5/11/09
http://www.frsengineering.com/woodsafter.jpg

yikes, glad the deer moved. Sorry, just trying to make
light of a very serious event. So sorry about your neighbor
but glad to hear community spirit is in high gear!

[Wild Will]

Cheers Randy. Glad you weathered the storm, one more time.

[Rchop]

No need to be sorry Elsie, you remind me of one of my favorite sayings...
"What Sunshine Is To Flowers, Smiles Are To Humanity"

Will, to bad this place is so far away, your skills would be welcomed. There's more hardwood on the ground here than a North Carolina furniture factory.

Thanks for the well wishes from both of you.

[Rchop]

Here's a short video by one of our local utilities...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jath_q6gLhY

[Rchop]

Power's finally back on, God Bless all the hard working utility crews. These guys have been working round-the-clock to get everybody back online. This morning we watched as a crew with a bucket truck came to restore a neighbor's overhead service and got stuck in the mud. The farmer across the street came over in a humongous John Deere tractor that spanned the entire street. He pulled that big utility truck back to the street like it wasn't even there! Talk about a man toy...wooo hooo :023:

They're calling this weather event that hit us a Meso-Cyclone. Like a hurricane without the water.

Below is a pic from the weather service. The bad part was the circle part following bow shaped line of storms. It's called a "bow-echo" and was the center of the counterclockwise rotating low pressure system. As the winds raced towards the center of the low, they spiraled tighter, increasing the wind speed and then the whole system started to collapse while it was travelling over us. All of the rising air then came rushing down and pushed the high speed air than normally remains aloft to the ground and added to it's speed creating the fastest winds measured to 106 mph.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3781/169/98/876615231/n876615231_7070433_6610798.jpg

Sorry if I'm boring you, but living most of my life in an area with no weather to speak of, this is interesting stuff to me.

[DarthRider]

Very interesting Randy...and very bad stuff. I never heard of a "Meso-Cyclone" and I hope I never see one.
I've always lived where there were weather "events" and that radar pic is NOT one you want to see!