The neverending storm saga is continued (see the 3 previous posts) and is finally wound up here. As stated earlier in one of the comment responses, please note that no cats were exploded in the writing of this blog...
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The dogs and I were safe at the neighbor's house. The wonderfully calm and efficient (and jovial, once the gas was off) emergency crews were on the scene and they worked into the night to remove the broken gas meter, cap off the damaged pipes, and drag away the fallen tree so I could get my car out.
Although the workers had a long night of work ahead of them, within an hour from when I called them and after a kind of mechanical sniff test done in a walk-through of every room in the house, I was allowed back in. The cats eventually emerged from their hiding places we all settled into a new kind of life that continues almost a week later now: No cooking on the stove and cold showers only. Not bad, when you are so grateful to be alive!
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These pictures of some of the damage have such a calm air about them, making all my hysteria seem a little over the top. Yes, I know that they have my signature out-of-focus look; many were taken with my cell phone. You can see the gas meter here, knocked off the pipe, which was capped by this point
That object between the tree and the fence is a large piece of metal that was folded up by the storm and tucked into that spot. At first, I thought it was part of my roof, but it was a piece of someone's shed.
Some of the emergency vehicles--at one point I counted 8. This was after the gas was capped and local traffic allowed through once again
This little fellow was judged to be "too small" for the job and was sent away
Using some bigger equipment the crews dragged the tree away to unblock the driveway. I didn't leave for several days, as cleanup crews, plumbers, and insurance people were arriving or calling at all hours. Besides, I assumed that the rest of the city was a mess and busy cleaning up; I later found that the big damage was confined to my road.
Now what will we do for excitement?
Lucky you that the majority of storm damage was on your street! (just kidding of course) Those pics are just crazy! Looks like a tornado went through. I can't believe you were out running to your neighbor's in weather that was taking down trees & flinging shed roofs!
ReplyDeleteGood grief, Clair, you really had a horrifying mess, didn't you?! It's a good thing you heard / smelled that gas quickly. While you were doing all this, I was out calmly photographing fairies on my picnic table. So, you see, neighbors the world over have lots of fodder for conversation!
ReplyDeleteNow stop practicing controlling the weather; or, in your lingo, move to the non-fiction side of the library! A little boring, but safer! LOL
Oh my goodness. It surprises me how localized some storms can be, How awful that you were in the path!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you were safe and things are returning to normal around there and the cats were safe, too. One experience like that and we don't take too many things for granted anymore. Have a great weekend with no more terrifying experiences!
ReplyDeleteWow...what an ordeal! So glad most of the damage can be replaced or replanted.
ReplyDeleteAwwwww.....that last pic was too cute!
ReplyDeleteI think you deserve a break from all that excitement for a while. hehe!
I'm glad you survived!
~Lisa