Royal Escape from the Topic - for off topic chit chat Showing 1,851-1,900 of 2,839

[Karlyne]

I can live without power, but the water is another story!

[Karlyne]

Some of my plants got pretty beat up, but I think most of them will be ok. It was 87' (almost a record) when the storm hit, and was 55' in a short time. It was a doozy, warnings and alarms galore!

[Susan in NC]

Yay!

[Susan in Perthshire]

Glad you made it through relatively okay Karlyne!

[Susan in NC]

Yes, Karlyne, glad you’re safe - always amazes me when there is a temp change like that - Mother Nature doesn’t mess about!

[Kirsten]

All this talk has got me curious... what is the worst weather/natural disaster you've ever been through???

I have 2:

1980 -- Mt St Helens erupted and we got a good inch or two of ash.

1984 or 85 -- huge windstorm. 80+ mph gusts throughout town. Lost a bunch of trees.

[Susan in NC]

Wow! We have had the edges of hurricanes knock out power and trees, but the scariest was classified as a “microburst” storm over our town, I was walking our dogs and had to run home to safety. We lost a tree and windows at our son’s pre-school were blown out, but luckily no one was hurt (the kids were sheltering in the hallways and thought it was exciting!)

As a kid in the Chicago suburbs, we had some close calls with tornadoes where we had to sit in the hallways and cover our heads.

[Critterbee❇]

Whew, glad you're safe, Karlyne!

Wow - Mt St Helens must have been terrifying! How close to the mountain are / were you?

I think the worst that I have experienced had to be the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami - absolutely terrifying even though I was 200 miles away from the epicenter, the earthquake was so large that it really shook us for over 3 minutes - thought it was never going to end.

I lived on the coast, 5 minutes walking from the ocean, and the sirens went off and everyone started moving away from the water right after things stopped moving. I was in my apartment, it was in the afternoon, and I went right to the academy because they always told us that it was high ground. (We had been trained on what to do during earthquakes and tsunamis.)

The news said that the wave only reached 9 feet in our area. There is a ginormous sea wall and port gate that they close during tsunami events to protect the pier and boats, so the only real tsunami damage was where the river met the ocean.

The aftershocks, power outages and food rationing afterwards were not fun, but we all knew how lucky we were because of the extreme damage in the Tohoku region that was showing on the television nonstop.

There were multiple aftershocks every day for weeks afterwards, and also shortly afterwards a "completely unrelated earthquake" with an epicenter of about 10 miles away, that felt even more intense because it was so close, but no tsunami because it was inland. That one was at night, and I was so unsettled that I jumped on my bike in my pajamas and was halfway to school before the assessment/all clear notification came to my phone.

[Karlyne]

Kirsten ,whereabouts were you when Mt. St. Helens blew? We were on our way through central Idaho to visit my cousins in Kalispell, Mt. We'd been camping and so were out of touch,
and when we came down into Lewiston, we couldn't figure out why it was so "smoggy"! We didn't make it to Montana, needless to say.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I think the worst for us personally was someone set fire to the bush on a nearby hill & we had to be evacuated. We thought we were going to lose our home.

[Karlyne]

We went through a forest fire, too, Carol. We watched the borite bombers dropping their loads on our acreage from the bottom of our hill until we had to leave. We almost left it too late - the fire had jumped the road and we had to drive through about 100 yards of flames to get out. When we got back the next day, the house was still standing, but we lost some big pines - and all the weeds under the deck. The firefighters were amazing!

[Karlyne]

Critterbee, tsunamis are terrifying to even think about. There are signs all over the Oregon coast for evacuation routes, and just the signs make me nervous when we go on vacation there.

[Critterbee❇]

Carol and Karlyne,
That has got to be the worst - why would someone do that on purpose? Or was it an accident?
And what do you mean, you drove through 100 yards of flames?? I am glad both of your homes survived!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Definitely arson in our case & the person was never caught.

[Nick]

Crikey - I admire everyone for living in such adventurous places! The closest I ever got to dangerous weather was the 1987 hurricane in the UK, which our whole family slept through!

[Karlyne]

Ours was arson, too, but the guy was caught. He wanted a job fighting fires, so he set one. I don't remember how many thousands of acres it burnt. The odd thing was that because the wind was blowing so hard it burnt a lot more than "ordinarily", but it also burnt more at ground level because it went so fast, instead of from tree top to tree top, so there was less actual damage.

We had to drive through 20' flames on both sides of the road to get out. My husband never hesitated - just plowed through. It looked like an action film, but waaaay more scary!

[Critterbee❇]

I cannot even imagine, but I am glad that you made it through the fire!

[Susan in NC]

Karlyne wrote: "Ours was arson, too, but the guy was caught. He wanted a job fighting fires, so he set one. I don't remember how many thousands of acres it burnt. The odd thing was that because the wind was blowin..."

Yikes! I think I remember hearing about that on the news - pretty dumbass way to start a career as a firefighter! So glad you all were ok.

[Kirsten]

Karlyne wrote: "Kirsten ,whereabouts were you when Mt. St. Helens blew? We were on our way through central Idaho to visit my cousins in Kalispell, Mt. We'd been camping and so were out of touch,
and when we came ..."

I live in Kennewick in SE Washington State. At least 2 hours away from "the mountain".

I live in a semi-arid/desert environment and wildfires around here are rarely from natural causes. Mostly due to to the stupidity that is the male of the species after having a few beers.

Though there was a big wildfire in California that was caused by sheer maliciousness. Although, a teen boy was recently fined $36M (that's a lot of paper routes!!) for his part in the Eagle Creek fire:

https://www.nwpb.org/2018/05/21/eagle...

[Critterbee❇]

Kirsten wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Kirsten ,whereabouts were you when Mt. St. Helens blew? We were on our way through central Idaho to visit my cousins in Kalispell, Mt. We'd been camping and so were out of touch,
a..."

When you are cleaning up the ash, do you sweep it and bury it or put it in the trash or have to send it somewhere to be dealt with? If it gets wet, does it turn acidic and damaging?

[Hana]

Scary stories! The worst we ever get in the Boston area are nasty nor'easters, blizzards and the occasional hurricane. So impressed with your husband's action film driving, Karlyne!

[Susan in NC]

Kirsten wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Kirsten ,whereabouts were you when Mt. St. Helens blew? We were on our way through central Idaho to visit my cousins in Kalispell, Mt. We'd been camping and so were out of touch,
a..."

Yes, I remember hearing about that too.

Critterbee- interesting points, about the ash! Hadn’t even thought of that aspect of it, but as a (very) amateur gardener, makes sense you’d have to do something about it, at least on land you want to cultivate. I know here in NC, with so many pines, there are some trees where lightening strikes and subsequent fires actually cause the pine cones to release seeds!

[Teresa]

Susan in NC wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Here in Southern Ireland we've had beautiful weather for the last four days!!! Unbelievable!!! Everyone trying to make the most of it as Spring bypassed us completely and we've had W..."

Yes Susan it was a landslide victory for the Yes campaign. No one saw that coming. I thought it was going to be very very tight as did most of the politicians. Goes to show how much the world is changing. At one time 'holy Ireland' wouldn't even consider the Referendum content.

[Kirsten]

❇Critterbee wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Kirsten ,whereabouts were you when Mt. St. Helens blew? We were on our way through central Idaho to visit my cousins in Kalispell, Mt. We'd been camping and so were ..."

I can't remember. But you can't go in a souvenir shop in this state without finding things made from it.

[Kirsten]

Teresa wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Here in Southern Ireland we've had beautiful weather for the last four days!!! Unbelievable!!! Everyone trying to make the most of it as Spring bypassed us comple..."

I was so happy to see that. And surprised.

[Susan in NC]

Teresa wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Here in Southern Ireland we've had beautiful weather for the last four days!!! Unbelievable!!! Everyone trying to make the most of it as Spring bypassed us comple..."

Yes, I picked up on that from the news coverage here, that it wasn’t as close as many thought it would be!

[Rebecca]

Kirsten wrote: "All this talk has got me curious... what is the worst weather/natural disaster you've ever been through???

I have 2:

1980 -- Mt St Helens erupted and we got a good inch or two of ash.

1984 or 85..."

I grew up on the Gulf Coast, so hurricanes were the norm. Not the worst, but the craziest was Hurricane Elena, back in '85. That brat had us evacuating, not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES as she revered course and chased all over the entire area again...and again, and yet one more time!

[Jane]

Gosh, I seem to have missed out on all the natural disaster "fun"! Darn!!

The worst I can remember is Hurricane Agnes back in the 70's. I grew up high on a hill along the Patapsco River near historic Ellicott City, Maryland. Agnes flooded the area quite horribly but, thankfully, we were safe. That same area was devastated two years ago by another storm and seems to be flooding again right this minute with all the continuous storms we are getting. They're showing on the local news right now that Main Street with all the historic and quaint shops and homes looks like a rushing river right now, the water is up to the tops of the doors. Those poor people.

[Rebecca]

Yeah, Eloise, in September of '75 did a real number on Panama City Beach. We came home from the evacuation to find that our motel was...still there, but barely. The pool deck had been broken up, and concrete slabs 12" thick, 12' wide and about as long had been floated into our cabana units. Two couples had refused to leave, but survive by standing on the edges of the bath tubs in their rooms for HOURS. They got very, very lucky. That was the first time in my life that I started over from near nothing. I had the clothes that I took with me when we left, and a few tapes and books.

Oddly, somehow, my parent's clothing ended up in my bedroom, and mine in theirs, what there was of it, all totally ripped to shreds. Tornado? Maybe. The worst of it was the LOOTING afterwards! We were under marshal law for weeks.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Rebecca wrote: "Yeah, Eloise, in September of '75 did a real number on Panama City Beach. We came home from the evacuation to find that our motel was...still there, but barely. The pool deck had been broken up, an..."

Oh that would be horrendous.

Our fire, we were allowed back home to collect our work clothes. Don't think that would happen now.

[Jane]

Oh, Rebecca, hurricanes are so horrible. How rough that must have been for your family. (On the other hand, the Gulf Coast is a beautiful place to live!!)

[Rebecca]

Changing the subject a bit...OK, a LOT, I'm finally about to finish getting my living room in order. I have a VERY tiny budget, and moved into my current apartment with almost nothing following a divorce that left my credit in shamlbes, and my bank accounts emptied. LOL, I have literally been using empty cardboard boxes as end tables. But I'm coming back now. Thanks to saving pennies, and finding a REALLY good thrift shop that actually offers lay-away, all I have to get now is a pair of lamps and something to hang over my loveseat! I've found a poster I like a LOT, and a pretty but cheap frame for it, so when I get my SS check on the first, I'll have a "real" living room, not a refugee camp! ON TO THE BEDROOM!

Oh, all right. This could have been done much sooner, but I'm disabled and chose to have my internet and cable, as those are my windows to the world. And cat food and littler. Priorities.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

& sorry to go off topic, but I'm flying to Brisbane tomorrow for my daughter's birthday & a bit of a holiday.

See you all on the 15th of June! :)

[Rebecca]

Jane wrote: "Oh, Rebecca, hurricanes are so horrible. How rough that must have been for your family. (On the other hand, the Gulf Coast is a beautiful place to live!!)"

We posted at the same time! It wasn't easy, but BOY did I learn lessons that have been so valuable in my life! Yes, the Gulf Coast, especially along Panama City Beach (sugar-white sand) is beautiful. But LORD did I get tired of sleeping in sand, eating sand, shaking sand out of my clothes, sitting in sand in the tub...I'm so done with sand. My real love is mountains. Someday, some how, I shall live in mountains again.

[Rebecca]

Carol ꧁꧂ Self-Doubt Sister wrote: "& sorry to go off topic, but I'm flying to Brisbane tomorrow for my daughter's birthday & a bit of a holiday.

See you all on the 15th of June! :)"

Give all my best to your daughter, and ENJOY!

[Karlyne]

Yes, Jet-setter Carol (your new alter ego), have fun!

Me, too, Rebecca - I love the coast for vacations, but mountains are for life!

[Lesley]

Carol ꧁꧂ Self-Doubt Sister wrote: "& sorry to go off topic, but I'm flying to Brisbane tomorrow for my daughter's birthday & a bit of a holiday.

See you all on the 15th of June! :)"

Good time to be going with the snow hitting the North Island! Have a safe and enjoyable trip.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Thanks it is so cold here today. Chloe said relatively cold in Brisbane - 22 c

[Lesley]

The worst natural event I've been part of was April 10, 1968 when two storm systems met in the middle of the country (where I live) with the resulting effect of sinking the overnight passenger ferry travelling from Christchurch, South Island to Wellington, North Island. Rain was bad but it was the wind that was so strong you couldn't stand up in it, and you could see concrete power poles actually swaying. Much damage to houses with roofs being ripped off, cars driving along the road were tipped over, people injured, and lives lost - 51 of which were passengers on the Wahine.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/wah...

[Lesley]

Carol ꧁꧂ Self-Doubt Sister wrote: "Thanks it is so cold here today. Chloe said relatively cold in Brisbane - 22 c"

Whew! Take your bikini!! :)

[Karlyne]

Lesley~aka Ella's Gran wrote: "The worst natural event I've been part of was April 10, 1968 when two storm systems met in the middle of the country (where I live) with the resulting effect of sinking the overnight passenger ferr..."

Horrible!

[Barb in Maryland]

For all who know I live in Ellicott City--we're about 2 miles away from the historic downtown, which was devastated yesterday by flooding that was worse than 2 years ago. 7.5 inches of rain in under 2 hours can do a lot of damage. Fortunately no one died this time.
It is all so sad because the town was finally back on its feet and thriving. There was a great sense of accomplishment--almost all the shops and restaurants had reopened, with new businesses taking the place of those that couldn't/wouldn't come back after the flood in 2016. The civic engineers had done a lot of flood abatement work as well. And to have all that effort wiped out in hours. It will be interesting to see what happens next.

[Susan in NC]

Barb in Maryland wrote: "For all who know I live in Ellicott City--we're about 2 miles away from the historic downtown, which was devastated yesterday by flooding that was worse than 2 years ago. 7.5 inches of rain in unde..."

Barb, I’m so sorry, I saw the damage on the local news and in the Washington post online, but didn’t realized you lived there.

[Susan in NC]

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "& sorry to go off topic, but I'm flying to Brisbane tomorrow for my daughter's birthday & a bit of a holiday.

See you all on the 15th of June! :)"

Have a great trip!

[Susan in NC]

Rebecca wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "All this talk has got me curious... what is the worst weather/natural disaster you've ever been through???

I have 2:

1980 -- Mt St Helens erupted and we got a good inch or two of ..."

Hurricanes can be stinkers, they move so slow and cover so much and can do a LOT of damage as they meander about, turning this way, then that!

Last year, relatives in Charleston, SC had to evacuate twice in one season for several days, and considering that’s several elderly people and pets, it’s quite a caravan. Much as I’d love to retire down there, it gives me pause - not easy to get out of there, if need be.

[Critterbee❇]

Barb in Maryland wrote: "For all who know I live in Ellicott City--we're about 2 miles away from the historic downtown, which was devastated yesterday by flooding that was worse than 2 years ago. 7.5 inches of rain in unde..."

So sorry to hear and see that, Barb! Truly devastating.

[Susan in NC]

Lesley~aka Ella's Gran wrote: "The worst natural event I've been part of was April 10, 1968 when two storm systems met in the middle of the country (where I live) with the resulting effect of sinking the overnight passenger ferr..."

Horrible!

[Karlyne]

Barb in Maryland wrote: "For all who know I live in Ellicott City--we're about 2 miles away from the historic downtown, which was devastated yesterday by flooding that was worse than 2 years ago. 7.5 inches of rain in unde..."

So sorry, Barb. It's horrible what flooding leaves behind and sad that the abatement didn't get finished.

[Teresa]

Barb in Maryland wrote: "For all who know I live in Ellicott City--we're about 2 miles away from the historic downtown, which was devastated yesterday by flooding that was worse than 2 years ago. 7.5 inches of rain in unde..."

Oh Barb that's awful! Nature is a powerful force and so destructive.

[Susan in Perthshire]

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through .- take care ladies!