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        Daily Chat >> General Posts >> Windstorm Today
        
(Message started by: purpleydog on Apr 10^th, 2008, 9:34pm)

Title: Windstorm Today
Post by purpleydog on Apr 10^th, 2008, 9:34pm

There are 3 huge sycamore trees in the yards of my apt. The one out back, blew over today, in 50 MPH winds, and hit the powerline. Power went off, we got everything shut down, and shut off the main breakers, and some guy came to the door to tell Kirk.

He walked outside to the patio, looked down the house (ranch tri-plex), and the meters had been blown clean off the wall. And they were smoking. Then the wire came off the house. Before he could call me or the fire dept., the cops were there, the city was there, and the fire dept was there. By the time I got home from work, in 5 minutes, the utility company was there, and the yard had been barricaded. Wire was laying on the chain link fence, which was conducting electricity.

The conduit had come away from the house, and the cap on top had blown sky high. 72,000 amp power wire had gotten hit by the huge tree, and it blew those meters off, and were smoking. Also, blew the neighbors meter box off his house, along with the conduit going down to it.

They cut the wire, but the landlord is replacing the meter boxes, so we are in a hotel until tomorrow. My landlord is pretty cool, she had guys out cutting up that tree within an hour, and they hauled it off. Before I got pics of it.

Supposed to have the power back tomorrow. As soon as the electrician finishes, the utility will reconnect us. Thank goodness everything we have plugged in is on surge protectors with voltage regulators. I'm pretty sure there was no damage to any of our equipment, or tv's. I'm not so sure about the neighbors...

Still windy as hell...

Title: Re: Windstorm Today
Post by Melissa on Apr 10^th, 2008, 10:39pm

Wow Chris, that's pretty crazy! Glad you're safe and sound. :)

We're experiencing some thunder and rain currently along with 30-37mph wind gusts.

My eyes are slamming shut but I have to be ready for when Ava wakes for her feeding. I think I could sleep through a tornado at this point! :o

Title: Re: Windstorm Today
Post by Redd on Apr 10^th, 2008, 11:13pm

Yep, plenty of lightning here too. Sort of makes one think spring is really here, but the blizzard warnings for the northwoods dosn't ring of spring at all.

Chris, you two hunker down and stay warm and safe.

Title: Re: Windstorm Today
Post by Charlotte on Apr 10^th, 2008, 11:17pm

I'm glad you are safe. Fires are ugly. It soulnds like good fast action prevented a lot of potential damage.

are the cats with you?

Charlotte

Title: Re: Windstorm Today
Post by purpleydog on Apr 11^th, 2008, 12:19am

The cats are at home, but they will be ok until tomorrow. I'm going back in the morning before I go to work to make sure everything is ok.

I hope the snow misses you, Pegg.

Title: Re: Windstorm Today
Post by midwestbeth on Apr 11^th, 2008, 1:10am

Glad to hear you guy's are ok. Storms around here can get pretty ugly. No high winds here, just lots and lots of rain.

Beth

Title: Re: Windstorm Today
Post by sailpappy on Apr 11^th, 2008, 3:17am

:) ::) I am also glad to hear you are both Okay and that you didn't lose more than power and the use of the apartment for a few days. Mother Nature has no mercy when she starts acting out!
You and Kirk as special people and in an odd way I guess you were smiled on, that tree could have flattened kirks new bike! :P John

Title: Re: Windstorm Today
Post by outofcommission on Apr 11^th, 2008, 4:14am

hey chris. sounds like you had an eventful day. did ya get any pics?

Title: Re: Windstorm Today
Post by Jackie on Apr 11^th, 2008, 6:03am

Wow Chris! Sound like you all got lucky....considering everything.

High winds here too but nothing like that....at least not so far.

Jacks 8)

Title: Re: Windstorm Today
Post by purpleydog on Apr 11^th, 2008, 8:13am

I did get some pics of them hauling the tree away, after they cut it up, and the stump, with the wire, before they got that out of there... too late to get pics of the meters, before the electrician got there, I was on the phone for almost an hour, trying to round up a few things.

I have to go to work now, but I'll post the pics later.