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By the title here it does not sound like something belonging in the prayer request forum but please let me explain.
I went over to my brother's house to celebrate Independence Day with his family and a few hours after arriving we were setting in the Living Room watching TV while it stormed outside. All of a sudden there is a flash of lightning lot of extremely loud smashing and banging come from the other end of the house.
Now I was sitting in position where I could see what was going on and what I saw was their screened in porch being smashed by part of a very large tree. It was over in a few seconds and I was wondering if a tornado just clipped the building or if one of the +100 year oak trees he has in his yard had just been blown over or been hit by lightning.
My sister-in-law, who had been in the kitchen and much closer to the porch when it happened came running into the room shouting at everyone to move to the back far corner of the house which we did.
She was in a blind panic making sure that nobody is hurt. My niece is yelling at her to calm down which never works when the person is truly scared and now full of adrenaline. It quickly became apparent that what ever happened had already taken place so my brother and I, along with his best friend who was also over went out to survey the damage. The porch was smashed up but in spite of having several branches thicker than what most trees are in and on top of it.
From their we could see the driveway, where most of the vehicles were, is covered by the part of the branches so we went outside to look.
My niece's SUV is likely totaled being crushed[1], and my sister-in-law's SUV (which she had just purchased and put the tags on two days ago) suffered damage as well but it looks to be mostly cosmetic and is salvageable. It looks like the branches landed less than a foot or so from my brother's truck so his was okay. The enclosed porch, which was added to the house within a couple decades after the house was built[2] had a large gaping hole in the roof where a branch pierced it.
We went back inside only to see multiple rescue vehicles pulling up. They came to the door which set off my brother's large dogs to barking so my brother's friend and I went outside to talk to them since they of course hesitated entering with the dogs loose and barking up a storm. We told them and the arriving police and fire department that nobody was hurt and after the dogs were locked upstairs the fire department inspected for gas leaks.
After several minutes and getting the all-clear for power lines and gas everyone but my brother's friend who was taking pictures went back inside as the rescue squads started leaving. A minute later he and one of the firemen came running in telling everyone to get out the backdoor immediately. They heard the tree cracking.
We went out the back with them having to fight my niece who refused to leave without the dogs (she won). The old rickety stairs leading off the back deck was slick from the rain and one of the steps gave way causing my brother's friend to fall on his backside pretty hard and slip down a couple steps. Fortunately his ego was more bruised than his body although I bet he feels it in the morning.
So we're all in the backyard and talking to the neighbors as we walked around to the one-lane access road leading to the houses behind my brother's place. We were now near to where the road accesses the street when we could all hear a series of pops and cracks as the even larger branches on the tree opposite the side that split and fell started breaking and come crashing down.
This caused a quick retreat although it was apparent to me those branches were not going to come down within 50' or more from us. Still when trees like that fall there is always a possibility something could break off as it impacted with the ground as come hurling out so I joined them getting back further.
As this even larger section came crashing down it went across phone and power lines ripping them right off my brother's house sending sparks a flying. While a great deal crashed down in the front lawn an even larger section crashed down across the street (Main Street in the town he lives in) completely and absolutely blocking it with nearly a 10' wall high wall of vegetation.
After a few minutes the police made us back the distance of two houses away. They were worried about down power lines. Unfortunately the rest of the storm was getting ready to start moving through. One of his neighbors graciously offered shelter in their carport and brought out folding chairs and bottled water.
It was a good 20 minute downpour and we headed out after it passed. The police officer who told us to move back was quite upset threatening to arrest us and this ticked my brother's friend off and he was loudly vocal about it. Both he and I had parked in the bank parking lot and everyone else slipped past the fallen tree to join my brother at the bank so I can understand why he was acting belligerent.
He told us that we could walk back to town and take about a 2 mile detour and go around to the bank. My brother's friend went back and asked the man who owned the carport we sheltered under if he would give us a ride (I was already braced for a long walk) and he said that he was glad to oblige. God bless him and his wife who originally offered the carport as shelter.
He took us around where we had to stop at the road block on that side. We explained to the police there that we were told we could get to the bank if we came around but they understandably had to confirm if it was safe. My brother's friend was fit to be tied and I found myself in the unusual position of trying to keep him calm since I'm usually the one highly aggravated.
The officer came back and asked who owned the (my car) and when I said it was mine told me that one of the branches had landed across the front end crushing it. Now I had looked at my car a couple times and hadn't seen any branches anywhere near it but figured maybe one bounced back as the second part crashed to the ground.
At that point the officer smiled and said he was just joking and we could go but had to return the was we came and not try to go the other way (which was something that was pretty obvious considering that was was completely blocked).
I told them as we walked away that it'll probably be a couple minutes before we left since we'd stop and talk to my brother, his wife and daughter before leaving and asked if we could return with ice or something and take it to them. To the latter request we were told that we would not be allowed to return.
I talked to my brother and family for a bit and then hold the dog's leash while they talked to the power company. They might be allowed to return to the house and be allowed to stay in a house without power (my sister-in-law especially didn't want to leave a house that couldn't be secured) but I warned him not to count on it.
Knowing that at the time I really couldn't do much to help I told them that I will be off the next day and maybe two and to call if they need anything. In fact after I post this I intend on calling him for an update (glad I just got his cell phone number)
Anywho... I would appreciate any prayers for my brother and his family. Thank God nobody was hurt but this will still be costly even after insurance.
In any case it'll certainly be a July 4th to remember.
1. It is an older model and being low on cash she basically had minimum coverage although I'd think it oughta be covered by the home owner's policy.
2. While I refer to it as a Victorian Age house I found out today that it is actually 110 years old -- built in 1907.
I went over to my brother's house to celebrate Independence Day with his family and a few hours after arriving we were setting in the Living Room watching TV while it stormed outside. All of a sudden there is a flash of lightning lot of extremely loud smashing and banging come from the other end of the house.
Now I was sitting in position where I could see what was going on and what I saw was their screened in porch being smashed by part of a very large tree. It was over in a few seconds and I was wondering if a tornado just clipped the building or if one of the +100 year oak trees he has in his yard had just been blown over or been hit by lightning.
My sister-in-law, who had been in the kitchen and much closer to the porch when it happened came running into the room shouting at everyone to move to the back far corner of the house which we did.
She was in a blind panic making sure that nobody is hurt. My niece is yelling at her to calm down which never works when the person is truly scared and now full of adrenaline. It quickly became apparent that what ever happened had already taken place so my brother and I, along with his best friend who was also over went out to survey the damage. The porch was smashed up but in spite of having several branches thicker than what most trees are in and on top of it.
From their we could see the driveway, where most of the vehicles were, is covered by the part of the branches so we went outside to look.
My niece's SUV is likely totaled being crushed[1], and my sister-in-law's SUV (which she had just purchased and put the tags on two days ago) suffered damage as well but it looks to be mostly cosmetic and is salvageable. It looks like the branches landed less than a foot or so from my brother's truck so his was okay. The enclosed porch, which was added to the house within a couple decades after the house was built[2] had a large gaping hole in the roof where a branch pierced it.
We went back inside only to see multiple rescue vehicles pulling up. They came to the door which set off my brother's large dogs to barking so my brother's friend and I went outside to talk to them since they of course hesitated entering with the dogs loose and barking up a storm. We told them and the arriving police and fire department that nobody was hurt and after the dogs were locked upstairs the fire department inspected for gas leaks.
After several minutes and getting the all-clear for power lines and gas everyone but my brother's friend who was taking pictures went back inside as the rescue squads started leaving. A minute later he and one of the firemen came running in telling everyone to get out the backdoor immediately. They heard the tree cracking.
We went out the back with them having to fight my niece who refused to leave without the dogs (she won). The old rickety stairs leading off the back deck was slick from the rain and one of the steps gave way causing my brother's friend to fall on his backside pretty hard and slip down a couple steps. Fortunately his ego was more bruised than his body although I bet he feels it in the morning.
So we're all in the backyard and talking to the neighbors as we walked around to the one-lane access road leading to the houses behind my brother's place. We were now near to where the road accesses the street when we could all hear a series of pops and cracks as the even larger branches on the tree opposite the side that split and fell started breaking and come crashing down.
This caused a quick retreat although it was apparent to me those branches were not going to come down within 50' or more from us. Still when trees like that fall there is always a possibility something could break off as it impacted with the ground as come hurling out so I joined them getting back further.
As this even larger section came crashing down it went across phone and power lines ripping them right off my brother's house sending sparks a flying. While a great deal crashed down in the front lawn an even larger section crashed down across the street (Main Street in the town he lives in) completely and absolutely blocking it with nearly a 10' wall high wall of vegetation.
After a few minutes the police made us back the distance of two houses away. They were worried about down power lines. Unfortunately the rest of the storm was getting ready to start moving through. One of his neighbors graciously offered shelter in their carport and brought out folding chairs and bottled water.
It was a good 20 minute downpour and we headed out after it passed. The police officer who told us to move back was quite upset threatening to arrest us and this ticked my brother's friend off and he was loudly vocal about it. Both he and I had parked in the bank parking lot and everyone else slipped past the fallen tree to join my brother at the bank so I can understand why he was acting belligerent.
He told us that we could walk back to town and take about a 2 mile detour and go around to the bank. My brother's friend went back and asked the man who owned the carport we sheltered under if he would give us a ride (I was already braced for a long walk) and he said that he was glad to oblige. God bless him and his wife who originally offered the carport as shelter.
He took us around where we had to stop at the road block on that side. We explained to the police there that we were told we could get to the bank if we came around but they understandably had to confirm if it was safe. My brother's friend was fit to be tied and I found myself in the unusual position of trying to keep him calm since I'm usually the one highly aggravated.
The officer came back and asked who owned the (my car) and when I said it was mine told me that one of the branches had landed across the front end crushing it. Now I had looked at my car a couple times and hadn't seen any branches anywhere near it but figured maybe one bounced back as the second part crashed to the ground.
At that point the officer smiled and said he was just joking and we could go but had to return the was we came and not try to go the other way (which was something that was pretty obvious considering that was was completely blocked).
I told them as we walked away that it'll probably be a couple minutes before we left since we'd stop and talk to my brother, his wife and daughter before leaving and asked if we could return with ice or something and take it to them. To the latter request we were told that we would not be allowed to return.
I talked to my brother and family for a bit and then hold the dog's leash while they talked to the power company. They might be allowed to return to the house and be allowed to stay in a house without power (my sister-in-law especially didn't want to leave a house that couldn't be secured) but I warned him not to count on it.
Knowing that at the time I really couldn't do much to help I told them that I will be off the next day and maybe two and to call if they need anything. In fact after I post this I intend on calling him for an update (glad I just got his cell phone number)
Anywho... I would appreciate any prayers for my brother and his family. Thank God nobody was hurt but this will still be costly even after insurance.
In any case it'll certainly be a July 4th to remember.
1. It is an older model and being low on cash she basically had minimum coverage although I'd think it oughta be covered by the home owner's policy.
2. While I refer to it as a Victorian Age house I found out today that it is actually 110 years old -- built in 1907.
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