Thursday, April 28, 2011

Alive And Well (edited)

I thought I'd come back and add some photos of what we found when we ventured out this morning. I had no damage to my place but unfortunately, we spent the morning picking up pieces of other people's homes. Funny the stuff you will find. I thought the lyrics from this scrap of sheet music was appropriate.


I don't know which high school this is from but the mascot is on the scrap. Maybe I can figure it out from that.

Just a small sampling of what we picked up. Mostly roof shingles, carpet pad, insulation and drywall pieces. Other people have found legal papers. Apparently a law firm in Tuscaloosa got wiped out.
I have read that over 100 (oh, the news just said over 160 now) people died just in Alabama last night. The previous worst tornado outbreak that I can remember killed 32 people, I think. It's sad to gather this stuff out of my yard and know this was somebody's home. They estimated that the main tornado last night was about 1 mile wide and it stayed on the ground literally from one side of the state to the other. That is almost unheard of.
The thing with a tornado is that if you are in it's path, you can about kiss your ass good-bye, but then, not even 1/4 mile to the left or right there will be no damage at all.
I have heard from all my family and they are all okay. I still have not heard from any of the guys from work or that live in Tuscaloosa; don't know about them yet.
The footage I have seen from that area is mind-boggling. Tuscaloosa was a fairly large city. Was.
I would like to know that my Alabama readers are okay. Please leave a comment. I know over a half a million people are without power right now though, so you may not be seeing this. Comment when you can please. Dang, I keep having to update the death toll just in the short while I've been writing this post. I'm going to go now; I'll check back in soon.



Hey everybody! We are all fine, so far! I think most of the storms have passed us here tonight though. The tornadoes all went slightly south of us so we just got a lot of heavy rain and some hail. I had covered my small plants or otherwise put them up. Can't afford to lose any food plants now. We did get some pretty strong winds and we heard reports on the television that debris from Tuscaloosa was falling on our town. We are like, 110-120 miles from Tuscaloosa.
My former company has a large job going on in T-town right now (at the university) and I am anxious to hear if the guys are okay though. Daddy Rabbit is the super on that job.
So, we did not lose power or anything but will have to wait until daylight to check for damages or trees down. Some fair size limbs were already falling before the sun went down.
Thanks for checking on us!! I'll be back soon!

24 comments:

carpenterlady said...

Thank God you are safe. When I heard about the terrible weather in your area, I thought of you.

Anonymous said...

I love the new header!

Glad to hear you are okay. Whew, what an April. I can't wait until after tomorrow when there will be a reprieve.

Anon-R.

Anonymous said...

I just have to re-comment. I had not read about the specific Alabama tornadoes when I commented before (was reading your blog before the news). Geez, it's awful. I'm so glad to hear you and your homestead are okay. I hope your construction buds are too.

Anon-R.

newcracker52 said...

Glad to hear that you made through the storms ok. We have had almost
9 inches of rain in April. Too wet here. The farmers will getting there crops out late this year!!

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear you guys are alright. We are wiating for that storm system to visit us later today. Looks like it may pass west of us for the most part.
Grenville & Beatrice

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Robbyn said...

OK that was WAYYYY too close!!! breathing easier for you now...

~Robbyn~

Anonymous said...

I wasn't aware (being one of those aussie types) that you were near any of it, but I am certainly glad everything is ok:)

JO said...

First glad to hear you made it through all that mess.
Don't know how I missed yesterdays blog. Nice change on your header.
My daughter had a very low D reading and they had her on some really high doses of vitamin D for almost 6 months. She's OK now but takes the vitamins every day now in lower doses. Living in AZ. you get plenty of sun and I need to ask her if she uses much sun screen I don't think she does but its worth asking.
OH and the little lided pot is a perfect size for where I wanted it and the color is also perfect.

Island Rider said...

Just sent you an e-mail to check, but see you are okay. Thanks for letting us know. I was worried about you.

R.Powers said...

Relieved you are okay!

MamaHen said...

Hey Guys! Thank you all for your concern and well wishes. We are fine and undamaged.

HermitJim said...

I'm so glad that you and the captain are faring well and that the storm left you alone!

You be careful, my friend!

Jenn said...

Very glad you are well.

Ed said...

Picking up debris from a tornado in your yard is way closer than I ever care to be. Glad to here you are safe. I thought about you and Bone, another Alabama blogger I follow when I heard about it yesterday morning. My brother, also an Alabaman is up in Iowa right now so hopefully his place is still standing when he goes back home in a couple days.

Rita said...

Cannot tell you how happy I was to log on and find that you are safe and sound. I'm sorry you found so much from others in your area. It is kind of bitter sweet. Thankful you are ok and yet so sad for those who have lost their homes etc.

Ed said...

My brother finally got through on the phone. The tornado went over his house near Gadsden and relanded just a quarter mile past killing several neighbors and church members. He is heading down tomorrow and loading up on water and a generator on the way. Fortunately his wife and kids are safe having ridden out the storm in their basement. So that is two of my three. Now I just need to here from Bone.

MamaHen said...

Thanks everybody! I appreiciate ya'lls concern. My internet is down now so my posting may be scarce again for a while. There are lots of issues with power and communications in this area right now even though we didn't get hit. Even runs on gas and groceries.
Hey Ed, I'm so glad your brother's family made it okay but hate to hear about their neighbors. Gadsden is my hometown and I'm not far from there now; my sister still lives there too. If I can help your brother or his family in any way please let me and them know.

Frugal Canadian Hermit said...

I'm glad to hear you guys are all ok Annie. I've been hearing of tornadoes down your way for quite some time now. Stay safe Annie.

Anonymous said...

Geez, so glad you are okay; Crazy times- I was huddled in a basement last Friday night as a tornado blew through nearby. But nothing like your area. Stay well... -Beau

Woody said...

I was wondering how you close you were and concerned for ya'll. Happy to hear ya'll are alright. I've found debris from storms miles away from the damage on our place. It's downright scary when one considers the power of the storms. I remember a couple of years ago watching a speck in the sky floating down and growing larger until a sheet of barn metal about six foot long landed in front of our house. I said that someone was having a bad day.

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

I am so glad that you and your place are OK. As a weather watcher and a news junky I am well aware of the dreadful damage, particularly in Alabama. I hope all those affected get plenty of help from all levels of government to rebuilt as fast as possible.

Anonymous said...

Hey Annie. Glad to hear you are ok. I am a reader of yours who lives just outside the city limits of Tuscaloosa. We, thankfully, just had tree damage. Path of monster tornado about a mile from us. Much to close. Our little city will never be the same. So much gone - lives and property. It is heart breaking. Anyway, just got power and internet back. Wanted to check on you. Glad it missed ya'll. Maggie

MamaHen said...

Hey Maggie! Oh, I am SO glad to hear you are okay and didn't have much damage! I know quite a few people down there and they are all safe, thank goodness. thanks so much for commenting.