storms in midwest and south

[Patti from Kentucky]

I thought I'd share some random thoughts and observations from my experience today in Henryville...I won't describe the overall devastation; I'm sure that's obvious enough from the news (though I don't watch TV news, so I don't knows what's been shown).  I've never been in a disaster zone quite like this before...Allstate and State Farm had mobile claims offices set up.  There seemed to be a lot of communications/infrastructure repair going on, we saw trucks carrying telephone poles, cranes holding up electrical wires, etc.

One of the things I found sobering was that all of the houses (those that have some part of a structure still standing) have been marked with a big orange X indicating that search and rescue has already searched there.  They came through Jeane's sister's property yesterday and scoured the fields and woods with rescue dogs. 

Another thing I didn't really expect was how much hail damage there was.  We drove past one used car lot where every single windshield was either cracked or missing, and the cars incredibly dented, as is Tricia's.  Her car is driveable, but is a mess.  Jeane's sister's fields had divots in them 3 inches wide and a couple of inches deep from the baseball-sized hail.  We also found pieces of lumber that had been driven into the soil as much as six inches!  It's amazing that nearly all of her llamas and alpacas survived the hail and the flying missiles. 

And I mentioned this on Facebook, but while most of what we cleaned up today was lumber, pieces of siding, shingles, downed trees and insulation, we also picked up multiple stuffed animals, and saddest of all, a small lampshade that belonged in a little girl's room.

On the uplifting side, as we drove through town we saw tractor trailers full of donated supplies (massive amounts of bottled water, blankets, etc.) being unloaded, and a special "heat tent" set up so folks working outside on a cold day could go in and warm up.  It was also nice to see the llamas and alpacas getting on with their lives...going about the business of grazing...setting a good example of resilience for us humans.

[KapiVT]

Glad that you and Jeanne are OK, Patty, and that her sister's house is relatively intact.  Your report of the way people are banding together to do what needs to be done reminds me of my own, and my state's, recent flood experience.  People really do seem to be their best in times of trial and great need.  I'm finding news of the tornado damage difficult to deal with.  Flashbacks, if not exactly PTSD.  And a terror that this early awful weather is a preview of a bad storm season to come.  And, as a note for everyone, the recovery process post a disaster goes on long, long after said disaster has passed from the headlines.  Life goes on but a "new normal" develops.  Things are never quite the same again.
Kapi in Vermont

[Bobbie Ireland]

Glad that you and Jeanne are OK, Patty, and that her sister's house is relatively intact.  Your report of the way people are banding together to do what needs to be done reminds me of my own, and my state's, recent flood experience.  People really do seem to be their best in times of trial and great need.  I'm finding news of the tornado damage difficult to deal with.  Flashbacks, if not exactly PTSD.  And a terror that this early awful weather is a preview of a bad storm season to come.  And, as a note for everyone, the recovery process post a disaster goes on long, long after said disaster has passed from the headlines.  Life goes on but a "new normal" develops.  Things are never quite the same again.
Kapi in Vermont

So heartfelt, Kapi. I cannot even begin to think what this experience must be like. Best to Patti, Jeane and their family and friends as they come to their own "new normal". XXX

[MAK]

Much love and prayers to all those affected. 

[valhalla]

Please donate to the Salvation Army, if you can:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf

or to the American Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org/

Both of these organizations are already on the ground.  Please donate.  Thank You.

[jeanne]

Patti and Jeane, so glad you are ok.  What horrific storms.  so sorry about your sister's home and hopefully animals are found safe.

I just heard today about Angel.  Sweet babe.  Now she is with her family.  What a tragedy

[Bobbie Ireland]

How are things going today, Patti? And that there is some reason for hope... "the thing with feathers...".

[Patti from Kentucky]

I didn't get to Tricia's today (nor will I tomorrow) because I have a special medical "test" scheduled tomorrow (the one you get when you turn 50), and it requires some "preparation" today!  I'm sure that was TMI.

But the report from Jeane (who has been going to work early so she can get in a few hours at the farm after work and before dark) is that groups of volunteers from two different relief agencies showed up today with lots of heavy-duty equipment and made short work of chopping up lots of downed trees and dismantling the remains of one of the smaller barns.  Jeane said there is a noticeable difference in how the town looks, so the massive volunteer effort must be paying off quickly.  This is the time in a disaster when everybody wants to know how they can help.

Jeane is helping Tricia coordinate a huge effort for this weekend (lots of friends of mine and Jeane's, friends of Tricia's from work and church, etc.)...there is still plenty to do!

All of the missing llamas have returned, so they only lost the one animal...

And in the human interest category, the cops caught a looter today who'd driven down from New Jersey to steal copper...they probably ought to beef up the security at the Clark County jail to keep the guy from vigilante justice.

[Kris G.]

Good to know that things are looking better and that all their animals have returned.  Thankfully, there are lots of good people out there to help with the clean-up effort but, unfortunately, the low-lifes always seem to crawl out of the woodwork during times like this.

[Carol P.]

Sounds like things are improving Patti.  So many good folks out there to help.   

Glad all the animals, except for the one, have returned.  This is really good news.

and as for that special test, well I'm sure you've heard the worst part is the preparation.  Good luck with it.

[valhalla]

Sounds like things are improving Patti.  So many good folks out there to help.   

Glad all the animals, except for the one, have returned.  This is really good news.

and as for that special test, well I'm sure you've heard the worst part is the preparation.  Good luck with it.

Carol's remarks - good luck Patti.

Just a reminder for the rest of us:
Please donate to the Salvation Army, if you can:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf

or to the American Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org/

Both of these organizations are already on the ground.  Please donate.  Thank You.