A derecho is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms. Generally, derechos are convection-induced and take on a bow echo form of squall line, forming in an area of divergence in the upper levels of the troposphere, within a region of low-level warm air advection and rich low-level moisture. They travel quickly in the direction of movement of their associated storms, similar to an outflow boundary (gust front), except that the wind is sustained and increases in strength behind the front, generally exceeding hurricane-force. A warm-weather phenomenon, derechos occur mostly in summer, especially during June and July in the Northern Hemisphere, within areas of moderately strong instability and moderately strong vertical wind shear. They may occur at any time of the year and occur as frequently at night as during the daylight hours.
So, it was Friday, June 29, 2012 and the last night of VBS at Shenandoah Baptist Church...we had just come inside after a little ice cream and the petting zoo on the playground. While watching the video/pictures of the kids week at VBS and listening to the speaker, the lights started flickering. Thinking that someone was playing with the lights, a few people got up to figure out...a storm was coming and the wind was picking up. Thinking that we had time and VBS was almost over...I decided to check my phone. My husband was calling and after answering, found out that he was in the church?! Apparrently, he heard the news of the Derecho from my sister(who woke him up after he had taken Lortabs for his abcessed tooth) and drove(probably shouldn't have) to SBC to find us. After wondering, for a split second, that he was drugged and sleep walking, I realized that he was serious and in his right mind after saying, "Get your stuff and the girls, we have to go!"
Almost in a run through the church, we approached the front doors. Chris had Lindsey and after feeling the wind, I told Hailey to hold my hand and not to let go. I had to buckle them while in the car myself, because the wind was so strong.
I don't think my adrenaline has ever pumped that strong, but I was so thankful that I was able to be for-warned and follow my husband home...if I had walked out with the girls into what I saw, without knowing what was about the happen, my nerves would've probably won and my uncertainty of making it home safe, would've been very little. Funny thing, my adrenaline rush caused me to take off without following Chris at first, but he was able to get in front eventually. It was crazy! People were running red lights to get home fast, but as the wind was blowing...we were praying! That was probably the most scarey ride home of my life. I cannot describe the night sky...the 80mile an hour winds, the uncertainty of trees falling on us or even getting home.
By the grace of God, we made it home!
( I understand that much worse things happen in this world than a Derecho, but in the Roanoke Valley, we don't normally see these things and are not prepared for natural disasters, such as this.)
The Derecho over downtown Roanoke
Thank goodness for battery operated toys, candles, camping laterns...and CHRIS!!
The simplicity of imagination and having fun with a made up fishing game including string, paperclips and refrigerator magnets...
Lindsey was thankful for thawed chocolate cake....
These pictures of the aftermath, don't do it justice. Mostly captured fallen trees, but there was much more damage with street/highway signs, power outages(which are still going on, 5 days later...with no promises in the near future), the police directing traffic, generators sold out...ice sold out, people walking because no gas stations were open/without power, cars on the side of the road, more hitchhikers, hotels without any vacancys and running out of water(I had to treat my patients in hotels)etc. The next morning, we saw one of our neighbors trees that had falling across the fence.
There were so many trees that had fallen on houses...
My parents drive...
The tree in which, both of my girls have swings...definitely not safe for a while...if at all.
Noticed a tree had fallen, length wise on a trailer off of 460...I pray that no one was in there when the tree hit!
Another view
On the way to Chris' parent house...good grief!
Thankful for both of our parents for taken the girls and I in. Chris stayed at the house with the generator, fans, window unit...trying to save our food and keep the house cool, which stayed between 84-96degrees in the triple digit heat. The girls missed their movies...they brought their portable DVD player & barbie movies to Nani & Pepaw's house.
Chris rigged up our bedroom with an old window unit & fan that's been in our basement for.e.ver! For once, I was glad that he doesn't always listen to me, after I tried to get him to sell them or get rid of them for extra space...
Overall, we learned several lessons:
1. NEVER take anything for granted!
2. DON'T be selfish
AND.....
3. WE NEED A GENERATOR!!!
So, it was Friday, June 29, 2012 and the last night of VBS at Shenandoah Baptist Church...we had just come inside after a little ice cream and the petting zoo on the playground. While watching the video/pictures of the kids week at VBS and listening to the speaker, the lights started flickering. Thinking that someone was playing with the lights, a few people got up to figure out...a storm was coming and the wind was picking up. Thinking that we had time and VBS was almost over...I decided to check my phone. My husband was calling and after answering, found out that he was in the church?! Apparrently, he heard the news of the Derecho from my sister(who woke him up after he had taken Lortabs for his abcessed tooth) and drove(probably shouldn't have) to SBC to find us. After wondering, for a split second, that he was drugged and sleep walking, I realized that he was serious and in his right mind after saying, "Get your stuff and the girls, we have to go!"
Almost in a run through the church, we approached the front doors. Chris had Lindsey and after feeling the wind, I told Hailey to hold my hand and not to let go. I had to buckle them while in the car myself, because the wind was so strong.
I don't think my adrenaline has ever pumped that strong, but I was so thankful that I was able to be for-warned and follow my husband home...if I had walked out with the girls into what I saw, without knowing what was about the happen, my nerves would've probably won and my uncertainty of making it home safe, would've been very little. Funny thing, my adrenaline rush caused me to take off without following Chris at first, but he was able to get in front eventually. It was crazy! People were running red lights to get home fast, but as the wind was blowing...we were praying! That was probably the most scarey ride home of my life. I cannot describe the night sky...the 80mile an hour winds, the uncertainty of trees falling on us or even getting home.
By the grace of God, we made it home!
( I understand that much worse things happen in this world than a Derecho, but in the Roanoke Valley, we don't normally see these things and are not prepared for natural disasters, such as this.)
The Derecho over downtown Roanoke
Thank goodness for battery operated toys, candles, camping laterns...and CHRIS!!
The simplicity of imagination and having fun with a made up fishing game including string, paperclips and refrigerator magnets...
These pictures of the aftermath, don't do it justice. Mostly captured fallen trees, but there was much more damage with street/highway signs, power outages(which are still going on, 5 days later...with no promises in the near future), the police directing traffic, generators sold out...ice sold out, people walking because no gas stations were open/without power, cars on the side of the road, more hitchhikers, hotels without any vacancys and running out of water(I had to treat my patients in hotels)etc. The next morning, we saw one of our neighbors trees that had falling across the fence.
There were so many trees that had fallen on houses...
My parents drive...
The tree in which, both of my girls have swings...definitely not safe for a while...if at all.
Noticed a tree had fallen, length wise on a trailer off of 460...I pray that no one was in there when the tree hit!
On the way to Chris' parent house...good grief!
Thankful for both of our parents for taken the girls and I in. Chris stayed at the house with the generator, fans, window unit...trying to save our food and keep the house cool, which stayed between 84-96degrees in the triple digit heat. The girls missed their movies...they brought their portable DVD player & barbie movies to Nani & Pepaw's house.
Overall, we learned several lessons:
1. NEVER take anything for granted!
2. DON'T be selfish
AND.....
3. WE NEED A GENERATOR!!!
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