My Experience with the "Derecho"-- Part 1

Monday morning, I got up at 6 and had my usual coffee and newspaper reading on the front porch. It was overcast, but not windy.

I went downstairs to the computer and once logged in, the Weather Bug was chirping like crazy with thunderstorm warnings. And, this thunderstorm was coming up fast and would be short.

Then, the internet started shutting down, coming back, shutting down. Strange. I went upstairs and looked off the front porch again and now there were some serious looking black clouds off to the west and the wind was picking up considerable.

I woke Liz up and had her turn her computer off and went downstairs and did the same with mine.

At about 7:45 am, the electricity started going off and on and the wind was picking up greatly. I remembered my hanging baskets and went out to take them down just as it started raining. I then remembered the swivel things hanging from the gutter and took them down as well.

The wind swept in and trees were really bending over. The electricity went off and stayed that way for a couple hours. Very standard in our subdivision to lose power in any sort of storm. All our lines are underground, but coming into the subdivision the lines are on poles and running through lots of trees.

The storm only lasted about 15 minutes and was really bad for about two of those. Unfortunately, we didn't get much rain as we really need it as it hasn't rained for about three weeks.

The Big Blow. --RoadDog


THE VERY LAST YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM CHICAGO IF...You know the phone number for Empire Carpets. The last times we've been to North carolina and Florida, it was strange to see Empire Carpet commercials on the local stations.


By the way, that number is 588-2300. (now introduced with 1-800).