Post by fernwood on Jul 20, 2019 11:40:15 GMT -5
Not going outside yet. All I could see was about 45-70 MPH winds for 20 minutes. Lots of swirling rain. Tree branches blowing across my yard and watched one tree fall down.
A good friend to the NE was not so fortunate. She has a large pine tree on her house/deck/garage.
Many in the area are without power. Keep seeing crews flying by my house.
7-25 Update
Thousands still without power, just in my County. As of last night, there were an estimated 15,000 without power in Portage County. Maybe more, as people with an isolated outage are not counted. Gotta love rural living. Some roads still blocked. I am still providing water and electricity/storage for freezers to others. Have seen electric crews from MO here, as well as other states. Worst storm in 20 years. Latest prediction is that those in urban areas will have power restored by tomorrow, if the outage effects many people. If less than 10, will be longer. Will take longer for rural areas, especially when the individual outage effects 10 people or less. About 300 people/businesses within a couple miles of me still have no power. The specific number of people for each outage ranges from 1 to 150. Most are less than 20. Lots of wires still down. Just not enough crews.
Did speak with the business owner across the road from me. His freezer is in my barn. He is getting drinking and horse waiter from me. He is taking it all in stride. Has a cell phone charging station for campers and children's horse camps. Says the children are loving it. Very limited charging use for them. They are forced to stay away from their phones and enjoy the horses, nature and each other. Nightly camp fires. Generators provide limited light for at night.
Insurance companies are experiencing about a 2-3 week delay for processing claim requests and scheduling an adjuster to visit the property. I was told an adjuster would contact me within 5-10 days to schedule an appointment. Plan on the appointment being scheduled for about 1-2 weeks later.
Neighbors and community members are helping each other. I had to drive to both Amherst and Waupaca yesterday. First time in those areas since the storm. Was glad to see that some of the farmers and horse owners did not have major damage. Just all of the trees down in pastures and some barn damage. Some houses still have trees on them. Saw many people assisting others with applying tarps on top of houses.
While there were no storm related injuries, people are becoming injured during the clean up. One utility worker had a tree fall on him. Crushed his spine and some internal organs. He was not expected to make it through surgery, but who knows. This happened yesterday and I have not seen an update. Local hospitals are experiencing many people coming in for injuries. People who do not know how to use a chain saw are forced to purchase one and wing it. People who have no business to do so are climbing ladders, hauling tarps to their roofs and nailing them down. This includes people in their 70' and 80's who have never done anything like this before.
All of Wisconsin, Central area from the MN border to Lake Michigan, needs help. Highest need areas run from about 100 miles North of Highway 8 to 100 miles South of Highway 29.
If you have any contacts, please let them know. Things are getting more than a little desperate for those in especially rural areas.
I can provide more details via PM if you want them.
Above all, please keep Wisconsin in your thoughts and prayers, as those mean a lot and are very powerful.
Thank you.
Neighbor just noticed the following while riding ATV on our trails. Yup, I have more storm damage. Thankful she sent me some photos. I forwarded these to insurance company. Will walk the 3/4 mile to the cabin and check the interior for broken trusses.
7-21 Update
A couple more photos of the damage I had.
Another view of Horse barn:
Tree down on horse fence and tenants cow fence:
Had to go to town today. Saw about 12 miles of destruction. The things that are not publicized much, as it is a rural area.
Trees on houses. Barn roofs off. Trees/branches on power lines. Garages/sheds blown off their foundations. Lots of debris in agricultural fields. The field debris will need to be removed prior to harvest. I did not take any photos, as I am not a gawker.
Many businesses are still without power, but have generators. Power is expected to be restored by Tuesday for some areas within 20 miles of me. Utility companies from other states are coming to help. Many roads are still closed.
Some schools/churches are open for people to shower/use bathrooms.
Some people are offering clean up services for free.
My daughter offered her house for any friends/relatives who needed a shower/bathroom, as she has electricity. Just one tree down in yard.
The more I saw, the more I believe there was a tornado embedded in the straight line winds. Within 5 miles of me, many trees were blown down to the North or South. The straight line winds traveled from East to West. I noticed some trees with twisted trunks, indicating rotating winds.
Did my duty as a Storm Spotter and sent the photos of my twisted tree trunk and the downed tree to the NWS, along with what I witnessed during the storm and on today's trip.
Am thankful that no animals were injured. That my house, garages and main barn suffered no damage. That all of my friends/family are safe, even though some had extensive damage.
In retrospect, I probably should have used my mini maul to try to break down my basement door and go there during the peak of the storm. Oh well. I am a trained storm spotter and an amateur storm chaser. If it would have gotten too bad, I would have grabbed my indoor cat, phone and headed at least to the basement door.
A good friend to the NE was not so fortunate. She has a large pine tree on her house/deck/garage.
Many in the area are without power. Keep seeing crews flying by my house.
7-25 Update
Thousands still without power, just in my County. As of last night, there were an estimated 15,000 without power in Portage County. Maybe more, as people with an isolated outage are not counted. Gotta love rural living. Some roads still blocked. I am still providing water and electricity/storage for freezers to others. Have seen electric crews from MO here, as well as other states. Worst storm in 20 years. Latest prediction is that those in urban areas will have power restored by tomorrow, if the outage effects many people. If less than 10, will be longer. Will take longer for rural areas, especially when the individual outage effects 10 people or less. About 300 people/businesses within a couple miles of me still have no power. The specific number of people for each outage ranges from 1 to 150. Most are less than 20. Lots of wires still down. Just not enough crews.
Did speak with the business owner across the road from me. His freezer is in my barn. He is getting drinking and horse waiter from me. He is taking it all in stride. Has a cell phone charging station for campers and children's horse camps. Says the children are loving it. Very limited charging use for them. They are forced to stay away from their phones and enjoy the horses, nature and each other. Nightly camp fires. Generators provide limited light for at night.
Insurance companies are experiencing about a 2-3 week delay for processing claim requests and scheduling an adjuster to visit the property. I was told an adjuster would contact me within 5-10 days to schedule an appointment. Plan on the appointment being scheduled for about 1-2 weeks later.
Neighbors and community members are helping each other. I had to drive to both Amherst and Waupaca yesterday. First time in those areas since the storm. Was glad to see that some of the farmers and horse owners did not have major damage. Just all of the trees down in pastures and some barn damage. Some houses still have trees on them. Saw many people assisting others with applying tarps on top of houses.
While there were no storm related injuries, people are becoming injured during the clean up. One utility worker had a tree fall on him. Crushed his spine and some internal organs. He was not expected to make it through surgery, but who knows. This happened yesterday and I have not seen an update. Local hospitals are experiencing many people coming in for injuries. People who do not know how to use a chain saw are forced to purchase one and wing it. People who have no business to do so are climbing ladders, hauling tarps to their roofs and nailing them down. This includes people in their 70' and 80's who have never done anything like this before.
All of Wisconsin, Central area from the MN border to Lake Michigan, needs help. Highest need areas run from about 100 miles North of Highway 8 to 100 miles South of Highway 29.
If you have any contacts, please let them know. Things are getting more than a little desperate for those in especially rural areas.
I can provide more details via PM if you want them.
Above all, please keep Wisconsin in your thoughts and prayers, as those mean a lot and are very powerful.
Thank you.
Neighbor just noticed the following while riding ATV on our trails. Yup, I have more storm damage. Thankful she sent me some photos. I forwarded these to insurance company. Will walk the 3/4 mile to the cabin and check the interior for broken trusses.
7-21 Update
A couple more photos of the damage I had.
Another view of Horse barn:
Tree down on horse fence and tenants cow fence:
Had to go to town today. Saw about 12 miles of destruction. The things that are not publicized much, as it is a rural area.
Trees on houses. Barn roofs off. Trees/branches on power lines. Garages/sheds blown off their foundations. Lots of debris in agricultural fields. The field debris will need to be removed prior to harvest. I did not take any photos, as I am not a gawker.
Many businesses are still without power, but have generators. Power is expected to be restored by Tuesday for some areas within 20 miles of me. Utility companies from other states are coming to help. Many roads are still closed.
Some schools/churches are open for people to shower/use bathrooms.
Some people are offering clean up services for free.
My daughter offered her house for any friends/relatives who needed a shower/bathroom, as she has electricity. Just one tree down in yard.
The more I saw, the more I believe there was a tornado embedded in the straight line winds. Within 5 miles of me, many trees were blown down to the North or South. The straight line winds traveled from East to West. I noticed some trees with twisted trunks, indicating rotating winds.
Did my duty as a Storm Spotter and sent the photos of my twisted tree trunk and the downed tree to the NWS, along with what I witnessed during the storm and on today's trip.
Am thankful that no animals were injured. That my house, garages and main barn suffered no damage. That all of my friends/family are safe, even though some had extensive damage.
In retrospect, I probably should have used my mini maul to try to break down my basement door and go there during the peak of the storm. Oh well. I am a trained storm spotter and an amateur storm chaser. If it would have gotten too bad, I would have grabbed my indoor cat, phone and headed at least to the basement door.