We heard the sirens and headed downstairs. The last time this happened was 2 years ago, and a huge tornado bounced over our house (Literally. The news reports said if you live in our neighborhood to take immediate cover. It landed not too far on the other side of the river.) and tore through Maryland Heights, so we take this kind of stuff seriously. Just like last time, you can see the line of damage. Things could have been worse.
We took phones, wallets, keys, computers, shoes, snacks (eating lessens the fear), diapers, small radio and headed downstairs. (We had a few minutes to prepare.) Since the boys love to play with flashlights, we struggled to find ones that worked. We angrily reminded them that this is why we tell them to play with their own flashlights and leave our alone. After that set back, and two working flashlights were located. After being down there for about 3 minutes, we took cover in the far corner of the basement, the part furthest underground by the play area. the electricity was out before we were even there. Kevin and Gwyn were the most upset, and Kevin was getting Colin scared. Gwyn just clung to me the entire time and wouldn't let me put her down for anything.
We could hear the wind getting stronger and, much to my frustration, Kevin kept going upstairs to check on things. At one point when we were all down there we heard something very loud fall. But it sounds much worse than it really was. We could hear things, but nothing was very close. The boys were scared, but I kept reminding them that it is easy to be safe if you are smart, and the sounds were not close to us.
We couldn't have been down there longer than 15 minutes when we went up. The tree in our backyard was down, and there was debris everywhere. We thought that was really the worst of it. Then Kevin went up in the attic and found a leak. By then, the clothes in my closet were getting wet. Things were starting to get a bit crazy. Kevin needed tarps since we had shingles blown off, the kids were scared and in the dark, the house was getting stuffy and hot, and water was dripping in. So I put the kids down in the same room. (Gwyn would not let go of me at all until I asked if she wanted to sleep in her brothers' room. At that, she finally let go. I moved her whole bed in so she would feel safer, and a bit more normal than just sleeping on a mattress.) Kevin called his dad for tarps. Then I got my clothes out of the closet, throwing wet ones in the bathtub, and everything else on our bed and floor.
Kevin got up on the roof and started hammering up tarps. A couple neighbors stopped by since he made everyone nervous. That side of our roof is 3 stories up, it was dark, very late, raining, slippery, and more storms were on the way. There was still a tornado watch for those storms as well. But he did not want the ceiling to collapse in. (A friend of ours had hers collapse in, so it was a smart move, but still very dangerous.)
At about this time I decided we were going to stay at his parents house. Kevin had turned down their offer at first, but it was after 11:00 and the kids were hot and scared. I needed them to feel better. So we all headed over where there was electricity, familiar beds, and normality.
The next morning clean-up began, and thankfully K1 had a gas-powered chainsaw. (And a friend kindly offered to help.) Driving around I even saw a trampoline in a tree! Thankfully, the grandparents took the kids (Gwyn was VERY excited about her trip to DTG's, and the boys got a night Cardinals game.) Saturday evening so we went out to dinner and relaxed.
As of now, it is Sunday night. We got electricity back last night, but there are still downed power lines not too far. There are piles of branches and tree-parts lining the streets, waiting for pick-up. The streets and houses are still covered in leaves. There are tarps up on roofs. The fridge and freezer are restocked. The house is a mess with my clothes out of the closet, leaves dragged in the house, ladders out, and beds in the wrong rooms.
At some point you just need to laugh. We kept instinctively turning on light switches and then cursing. When we drove around we kept saying "Ooh, free siding! Free shingles! Sweet!" It sounds so much more dramatic than it really was. And we could have been worse. The houses up the street that really got hit have ripped-off chimney and garage doors, missing walls, and holes in roofs.
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| We have been asked about the siding Kevin put up. No damage! (It is designed to withstand winds up to 150 mph.) |
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| After some clean-up. |
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