It was a storm called a Derecho that demanded and got its 15 minutes of fame – a maniacal weather beast that caused headaches and a lot of sweating in the Commonwealth of Virginia and they say, in a total of ten states. And the Derecho actually took lives in its insane path.
Friday:
A Very Big Wind – I was creating a peachy blog post with two luscious tried and true recipes, when I heard the pitter-patter at my window pane, along with a howling wind. “How exciting,” I thought, “It sounds like hail.” I have never seen hail so I rushed to tell Bill. “That’s not hail,” says he, “That’s WOOD.” He meant that twigs and little things were being pounded into the window. Uh Oh!
The wind got worse and all around there was lightning with no rain. It was all over in minutes. And our lights went out and stayed out for close to four days. But that first evening was cool and deceived us into thinking, “This isn’t so bad. Electricity will be restored by morning.” Ha! The storm hit on Friday night and by Saturday at noon temperatures had reached over 95 degrees, and there was no power.
Saturday:
Damage Assessment – Morning meant we could see what we really didn’t want to see. Trees were down all around (fortunately, not on our roof).
Gasp! Look at this! Look at this! This will take months to clean up!
No electricity.
No air conditioning.
No land-line phone.
No water.
We were suddenly painfully aware we were dependent upon a little red generator, cell phone communication, and our own ingenuity. We decided to simply tough it out. Ha!
To get my mind off drooping, dripping and my clothes sticking to me in all the wrong places on that first scorching day, I invited neighbors/friends for dinner! This may sound irrational, but sharing stories of survival made the time go faster. Besides, our guests not only had no water at their home, but no generator either. Pete had been out all morning clearing fallen trees from our roads, so he was happy to clean up a bit at our house. And we had our July 4th feast on June 30th, cooked on the barbecue.
Sleeping that night became problematical. The day’s heat had built up in the house and I soon learned what “tossing and turning” really means. What did we ever do without air conditioning I ask you?
Sunday:
Seeking Refuge – Early morning of the second scorching day after the storm we rented a motel room (along with many other “locals”) to find some respite from the heat and to be able to shower and sleep at night. Fortunately, there was some power on the north side of town to allow motels to stay open. By midday however, the inn signs read “We are filled.” We did get a room but spent most of the day at home anyway, trying to keep the freezer and the refrigerator going with our stalwart little generator. By switching it onto different circuits it could magically generate enough water to flush toilets and fill pitchers. Neighbors came to get drinking water and more water for their horses.
Monday:
The End of the World? – I was beginning to feel like a displaced person wandering around in a world of technology that didn’t work. Power lines were down so there was no land-line communication between friends and neighbors. There was no news. Our two radio stations never mentioned the storm or the anticipated time for reinstating power. No one could connect with the power company or the phone company. Gas was scarce. Ice was precious. Water was gold. Cash worked better than credit because credit card machines were down. Many restaurants and businesses closed.
Tuesday:
Paralyzed – Another scorching day spent much the same as Monday, with an increasing feeling of paralysis. I was finally able to get my computer to work at the motel and answer some emails. Blogging was a delightful activity I recalled from a long-ago past. The list of new posts by my favorite blogger friends was growing and there was no time to devote to commenting. Is this the way life was going to be? Have you ever read The Road? I saw comparisons as Bill and I traversed a scorched world full of confused people searching for ice and water. Gas stations closed with signs on their pumps reading “No Gas.”
Tuesday Evening:
Lighting the Way – “Bill, there’s a light on in the hallway!” I yelled, “Is the generator hooked up to the hallway?”
“Noooo,” was his incredulous answer. “I think we have power. Yes, I believe we have power.”
YES! YES! YES! WE HAVE POWER! AND AIR CONDITIONING! AND LIGHT! AND WATER! AND I AM GIDDY WITH DELIGHT!
Wednesday, July 4th
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO THOSE OF YOU WHO CELEBRATE AMERICAN INDEDPENDENCE!
There are still many people in our area who are without power, but progress is being made. The incessant heat is the culprit in making it so difficult to tough things out. People have lost all the food in their freezers and refrigerators and are still camping out in the motels. Motels are offering “local” rates and there is an overall air of kindness and people eager to help each other through this very rough time. The Derecho storm is almost over and it’s time to clean up and start again. It’s an Independence Day Holiday that will not be forgotten.
Wow, what a storm! It will make you re-evaluate some of your emergency preparedness plans probably. Scary. Glad you all made it through.
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Thanks Lilly. It was a wild, very short storm that was unbelievably vicious. Not sure what we could do more in preparation, but others are considering getting generators and cell phones.
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Only thing: In a severe storm–or CA earthquake–you would even lose cell towers. Just get a high enough bed to hide under. That’s my plan.
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Not a bad idea. I would have to lose some weight to get under the bed, but maybe that is enough incentive! LOL 🙂
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Oh Dor – what a week from hell! Glad things are looking up for you.
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Yes – “All’s well!” Judith. Crossing fingers that we will stay storm free for awhile. Family is here
visiting. 🙂
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This was a wonderfully descriptive post Dor!! You took us right into the middle of the devastation with you and I could feel how overwhelming it must have been. I know you have a great deal of cleanup ahead of you, and I wish I was there to help out, but all that really matters is that you and Bill are safe!! 🙂
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Thanks Cindy. Too hot to begin the cleanup efforts plus son and family are here for just one day en route to California. Doesn’t life get crazy at times? At least we are cool now – maybe not collected – but cool, and yes, “safe.” You are a very sweet friend even if I don’t know you. 🙂
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It’s funny, I feel like I have known you for a long time :).
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Funny, I feel the same way about you :).
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Holy cow! That was a really bad storm! I thought you were writing about some of your older experiences until I got farther into the story. I am not that far from you in Pennsylvania and we were spared. Good luck with the cleanup. We had a bad storm here last October and it took months to clean up all the broken trees.
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Glad you missed the wicked wind storm Kate! It will be miserably hot here until Monday they say, so we will only clean up in spurts until then. Temps in the 90’s here and humid so I don’t last long outside.
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That storm was wicked! It missed us and hit south (daughter and son-in-law were affected) We heard that so many were without power and in this horrible heat! I’m so glad you managed, even if you dripped and drooped all the way through. We’ve been without power in the past for a few days, but usually in the winter not summer. It sure makes us appreciate electricity, doesn’t it? Hope you all recover well.
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Hope your son and daughter-in law are o.k. Mama. Some people here are still without power and it’s almost a week since the wild windstorm. Amazing. We are still having 95+ degrees heat and high humidity but it’s supposed to improve by Monday. Phew!
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Goodness! What an awful week. We went through a 4 day power loss in 2009 but it was due to an ice storm. We had one room blocked off with blankets, a big pot bellied stove for heat and a generator to run a few lights. It seemed very primitive and unbearable to me. I know the cleanup is going to be a chore. Thinking of you and all your neighbors and wishing you all well. Glad you are okay!
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Actually we have decided power losses in winter may be easier for us than summer – with a wood stove for warmth and a bit of cooking and the generator for lights. Cozy 🙂 Starting the cleanup tomorrow but we still have to get professional help for disposing of the big fallen trees. Thanks for your good wishes Lori.
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WOW! I’m glad you weren’t hurt with everything falling down around you! But I’m sorry you had to do without for so long. Gotta love those generators! At least you were as prepared as you could be for such a strange weather occurrence. I was in North Dakota (guilt, guilt, guilt), but my husband and son managed fine. Many around us, though, in Alexandria and Arlington, are still getting their lives back together. A belated welcome back to the blog-o-sphere!
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Thanks Amiable Amiable. Did I ever tell you we once lived in Oxon Hill, MD? Also, coincidentally, my son and his family are currently en route through the Dakotas in a permanent move to California. I have been reading your blog! O.K., I’m wandering around here, probably addled from the after effects of the big storm and son and family descending as they began their journey west. I’m not quite back to the blog-o-sphere entirely, but thinking. Thanks again for stopping by and for your words of encouragement. 🙂
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