Weathering the storm: War stories from the derecho
Saturday - 7/7/2012, 9:47am ET
WASHINGTON - Last week's violent storms killed more than 20 people in the Mid-Atlantic and left hundreds of thousands without power.
When the storms converged, many residents were caught by surprise and didn't have time to prepare. Still, the deluge brought neighbors, friends and family together as people struggled to weather the derecho.
Some of our readers and listeners shared their stories about making it through the storms. Below is what they had to say.
Via Facebook:
Salimeh Khaleeli We had my husband's 99yr old..almost 100..grandfather stay with us as they had no power...we were lucky not to lose power, and did what we could to help the family.
Anne Titus Honn This was my Facebook status on Tuesday: Our power is back on for the first time since last Friday crazy storm. It's been a challenge but not all bad. We watched our boys emerge from their electronic comas and become kids again. The boys played poker and Monopoly and they read BOOKS, we took a 14 mile bike ride, we grilled great food as it thawed and had neighbors over for dinner and a couple of great rounds of Scattergories, I cleaned up my desk and got everything OUT of the IN box, the boys played disc golf with Rick, we walked downtown for dinner, we just hung out and relaxed. I'm glad the power is back but I'm really grateful for the past 4 days with my family.
Steve Michaels I live in an apartment that has not lost power for more then 2 hours since 2006 (when I moved in) and the neighbor said the Blizzard of 2003 was when they last did longer. That means this storm did more damage to my apartment then Hurricanes Isabel, Ivan, and Irene and more then Tropical Storm Lee and more then the tornadoes in 2010 and more then the Great Quake of 2011 and more then the two big snowstorms in 2009-2010.
Laura Prince Growing up with big, booming Midwestern thunderstorms, I've gotta say I've NEVER heard a storm hit so hard and so fast. My daughter & I grabbed candles and holed up in a small bathroom until the wind eased off. We were without power less than 24 hours... feel so grateful it wasn't much worse.
Bryce William I work at harris teeter in olney and we had a semi truck of ice a day come in from sat-tuesday and we gave out free bags of ice to anyone who needed it.
Margaret Rose Hooray for the power companies, I say! And I think Chris Van Holland's desire to get Congress involved is idiotic. It was a major storm, genius. Power isn't going to be restored the next day.
Alexandra Houstoun Craige Please remember also small businesses that lost product or just business due to the storm and resulting outages.
Jimmy Lawson I would advise those dissatisfied with the progress of power restoration to imagine what it must of been like for those folks living along the Gulf of Mexico post Katrina? Given the suddenness and crisis damages created by this herecto I have seen the quick response of Firefighters, Police, EMT's and public safety personnel rise above it all and perform to a very high standard. I have gone through dozens of ice cold bottled water kept on the front seat of my car, passing them out to all those in their collective efforts to restore our infrastructure. When I see cops directing traffic, or utility workers I give them bottled water and an "attah boy for deeds done oh so very well".
Kellie Scarbrough We were out of town. Our cat sitters said we had no power but not to worry about the temp inside. When we got home our cats were pretty toasty but we had just gotten power back so we cranked the AC. Aside from having to toss all the food in our fridge, we escaped any serious damage to property or ourselves. Dominion has always been great-we're grateful to have them.
Angela Roberts During the parade in Shady Side, Md. yesterday, the BGE trucks were in line to get into Shady Side after the parade was over and as they came down through, all the residents of the town were cheering and clapping for them, and the truck drivers were blowing the horns on the trucks, my son said they got a better response then the whole parade. Thanks to all those.
Karen Meese Pyles A mile up the street from me a tree came down on a car a claimed the life of a young man. His friends escaped serious injury. So sad. Wrong place at the right time.
