We're OK (Eastern US SuperCell)

[LadyTevar]

Yes, we got hit by the monster storm cell that bitch-slapped the Appalachians. The wind was blowing so hard it opened our LOCKED front door, several times. We now have a dent in the door from where it was straining against the chain-lock. There's trees down all around us, but miracle of miracles we have power. My mom is less lucky, looked like all of Ansted is without power. Not able to get hold of my brothers yet, so I don't know if they have power or not.

The rain wasn't that bad, but we have confirmed 78mph winds. I'm expecting to hear confirmation of tornadoes across the state, as I know I saw one attempt to form and then die when it tried moving. Before the rain hit, it was 102F in Charleston. After the storm it was 67F. It's supposed to hit 100F again today, so I'm worried about my mom, and about reports of "possible severe weather" again this afternoon.

[frigidmagi]

Glad you're okay. In case these storms become a thing? In Oklahoma some people use top and bottom bolt locks that secure vertically. My parents never did, using knob locks and a horizontal bolt. Does your mother have water and gas, that's honestly more important then power... just trust me on that one. Hope you get in touch with your brothers soon.

[LadyTevar]

No gas, her place is totally electric, Frig. Water is ok, and she had just gone to the food pantry yesterday and gotten bottles of juice and various 'staples'. Some of my other family up there have gone looking for generators for their places, and I have told mom if all else fails she was welcome down here.

[frigidmagi]

Ugh cold showers then.

[LadyTevar]

Brothers (and their kids) all fine, and turning No Power into Adventure, although the Big Brother is working double-shifts at the Emergency Management Office. Mom is 'a bit warm', but she is more worried about the food she's gonna lose in her fridge and freezer. It just did miss 100F today, but it's still 80F now (at 11:30p). I didn't get any more storms, but as the air climbed the mountains it built up again, so Mom got another good thunderstorm up there.

At this point, there have been more confirmed tornadoes from one storm than any other in my entire life. 70% of WV is Without Power, and it may be 2-4 days before it's back on. "Cooling stations" have been set up at local community centers and schools that have power, while churches, firestations, and even nursing homes have opened their doors to anyone who needs to escape the heat. Those on Oxygen have been flooding the hospitals, so nursing homes and fire stations are also trying to refill bottles. One refill station ran out of oxygen due to demand. :(

There was a run on all the working Gas Stations (thank all the gods I filled up Friday before it hit). Cars were backed up for blocks trying to get in. Streets are filled with branches and whole trees that fell, and some of the wooden power poles have splintered and fallen from the weight on them.

In short... it's nasty, and Nit and I are DAMNED LUCKY that the tree we had tangled in our powerlines was taken out earlier this year. Otherwise, we'd have been up shit creek.

[General Havoc]

Some of the pictures coming out of that neck of the woods are fairly... impressive:



You guys are tougher than I thought if you put up with this sort of shit with any regularity.

[LadyTevar]

This is actually a rare thing, Havoc. The last time we had anything this bad was 2009. That storm hit in December, and dropped snow & ice as well as high winds.

[Josh]

Glad to hear you and the peeps are all okay.

Also, definitely listen to the Okie on storm prep- they're the experts.