Some crazy weather at the farm. As you might have read on yesterday's post, 2nd Family (who lives out there full time) said that in all the years they've been there, they've never seen the wind so bad. So here are some pictures:
Upon driving there, we saw this huge limb that had fallen onto the road, someone had pulled it over and put it up on the guardrail.
This is a neighbor's fence, the entire fence line, several hundred feet, that had been blown over.
We lost a few shingles. These are all I could find but that's not to say we don't have more that were blown out of the yard. We will be having a roofer come check things out.
Over by the newly cleared forest-like area, we lost some large limbs. More stuff for the burn pile that we can't burn because it's been too wet for three weeks now!
Another inch of rain over the last couple of days means standing water everywhere and yet again, a muddy mess. No mowing, no edging, no gardening of any kind.
This is our biggest tree loss. A huge tree (Hackberry I believe) that was completely upended and fell right over, narrowly missing the power line to the house (and also missing our peach and apple trees). Time for some chainsaw work.
Here is another one that was down in the front yard along the driveway. More chainsaw work and more stuff for the burn pile.
This was on a neighbor's property next to us, a huge tree leaning over. We're glad we don't have to deal with this kind of large tree.
This one is pretty scary, it's a neighbor down the road that had his entire carport wrapped up and twisted around a tree and itself The National Weather Service is actually coming to look at this damage (and in the area) to see if it was 'tornadic' so they can classify it as that.
Several neighbors out there are saying it was a small tornado, perhaps an F-0 or F-1. That's what the NWS does, it looks at this chart and compares damage in the area. It could have just been straight line winds but some people said they saw rotation in the clouds just prior to the damage.
Whatever it was, it was most definitely a close call.
We had been casually shopping for generators, more like window shopping, but this makes us move that up near the top of the list for purchases.
i was wondering how you guys made out. so very glad you did not have much damage and that the hives did not go flying! we had snow yesterday!
ReplyDeleteSnow? Wow this weather is crazy this year huh? Stay warm!!
DeleteSo sad to see the big trees go over.
ReplyDeleteI know, at least they didn't go toward the house or power poles.
DeleteGlad that tree missed your power line. We had bad weather here yesterday, as well. But all we had were downed limbs. We picked up In-laws today, ours will have to wait as we had plants to put in pots.
ReplyDeleteIt was a messy weekend here both days. Sun yesterday for a bit then storms again overnight and most of today. Now under a tornado watch.
DeleteA generator is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! It's always been on our want list but not at the top. Now it just might be, ha.
DeleteGlad you are ok.
ReplyDeleteMad weather around the world.
Sydney copped it last week. Daughter returned home from holiday in U.S. to find granddaughters school damaged so they did not go back until Friday.
Wow, isn't that wild? Hope y'all stay safe!!!
DeleteI'd say y'all are pretty lucky. Maybe a safe room or cellar might be next on your list.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're okay.
It would be hard to add a safe room (unless it's one of those outdoor above ground kinds but I've always wanted a cellar (it's the Oklahoma in me, ha).
DeleteI was just going to post a comment when we got bad weather and the electricity went off for several hours. We were under a tornado warning. Kinda scary here for awhile.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are also kinda scary. That does look like tornado damage, especially the carport wrapped around the tree. The damage at the Farm is going to take some hard work. Y'all sure had some close calls out there.
With your roof damaged by the storm, you may be able to get a new roof paid by insurance.
Supposed to be some more bad weather tonight-tomorrow -- fingers crossed.
I was just about to email you and see how you were. I saw that on the news. Glad you are ok. It's crazy weather for sure. Stay safe!!
DeleteWe had a generator installed and it has been a godsend. The whole house runs off it and it is fueled by propane so we don't have to keep filling it with gas. We asked a guy who installs them for the government which was the best to get. You could probably install one yourself if you know how to do electrical stuff.
ReplyDeletePropane? Hmm, interesting. Thank you for that. We will have to research that. I don't know how to do electrical but hey, it'd be worth it to have someone do it right. Thanks for this!
DeleteYawzah! That's a lot of bonfire material! Once I saw all the pictures the first thing that went through my head was "Yay! Barnabas is safe!". I hope the roof damage is minimal. Also, now that I've seen the pictures, I'm extra specially glad everyone is safe! Please tell J and Co...I miss them.
ReplyDeleteYes, when "J" told me about the trees, my first thought was Barnabas too. He lives another day. We talk about you every time we see them, you are missed too.
DeleteWe have a 10KW propane generator manufactured by Generac. It has worked flawlessly for the last 5 years. The best thing about propane powered units is they start very reliably. There is no gasoline to evaporate and gum up the carburetor as with gas powered units. Ours runs for about half an hour every week to make sure everything is working correctly, and to exercise the "gererator" part. We also have the electronic transfer switch, so when it detects the commercial power has failed, it switches the unit on automatically. NO running out in the rain trying to start it. It also turns off automatically when the commercial power comes back on. We don't have to use it much, but it is like 4 wheel drive, nice to have when you really need it. And, I think them make them in Texas!
ReplyDeleteHmm....do propane generators, do you have to have a separate large propane tank? I like that idea. Will have to do some research on those. Thank you. And I totally can related to the 4 wheel drive thing. One time we got stuck, temporarily and were in a 4 wheel drive vehicle and it got us unstuck, ha.
DeleteBuying a generator is not a bad idea, especially in the Houston area. Weather out there turns nasty and sometimes without warning. Also, the idea of a storm cellar is good to have. On the upside, you can have it to store stuff that y'all can from the garden.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely can change on a dime as they say. not to mention hurricane's and/or tropical storms. Oh, you don't know how badly I want a cellar. It's in my DNA I think (I'm from Oklahoma, most all relatives always had one, ha).
Delete1st Man,
ReplyDeleteI would say you need at least a tornado shelter (underground). You could always use it as a root cellar :-) Be careful, my mom and sister had the same stuff you had. A neighbors trampoline came flying over houses and ended up being thrown against a neighbors fence 3 houses away.
I SO want an underground shelter. And I like the idea like you said and Leanna said, it can be a food storage place as well. Loose stuff is always so dangerous. I always try to think about that when we leave at the end of the weekend, making sure stuff is put up in case a storm blows through but I forget more often than not. I'll have to remember. :-)
DeleteHope your family is safe!
We've had a close call a few years ago (a large part of our neighborhood was destroyed by a tornado) and have since acquired a generator, kerosene heater, tornado shelter and lots of miscellaneous items. Once we saw what the tornado had done, plus being without power for 8 or 9 days, we got serious about being prepared.
ReplyDeleteYikes, I KNOW that must have been frightening. Oh, how I want a shelter. Maybe because when I was little, I played in my Grandparent's cellars, ha. While we don' have as bitter cold as you do, it can get below freezing and you're with, a kerosene (or alternative fuel) heater is a good idea. Thanks!!
DeleteOMG!! So glad y'all are safe and minimal damage.
ReplyDelete