On Tuesday afternoon, around 4:45, I’m sitting at my cubicle doing mindless things, when I hear thunder outside… I could hear the loud cracks multiple times, and our power began to flicker some (we have lots of backup generators). I was bored at work, and really wanted to see the storm, so I decided to leave. Upon walking outside, I noticed horizontal rain – I had no idea where this storm came from. After walking about 200 yards to my car (I got soaked), Jay called me and told me the mayhem that you will read below
As I drove home, the power had gone out most down 29. Traffic surprisingly wasn’t too bad yet, which it normally would be at that time, but the rain was hard. I drove down 14th street to get home, but huge branches and two huge power cables looping down blocking the road stopped me. So I pull a U-turn.
I drive down 10th street to try to get home, and right where 10th street and Wertland intersect, there is a huge tree blocking the entire road. A huge telephone/power pole is down as well. So I pull a U-turn.
I attempt to cut over to 15th street to bypass the 14th street tree, but there is another tree down on 15th street. So I pull a U-turn.
I try to drive down Rugby road, and there’s a huge tree down in front of Pika. Luckily, you could squeeze by this one. I turn onto Main Street, and traffic is almost at a standstill. At the intersection of Main Street and 14th (where Amigos is), the water is flooded over my tires, up close to my door, and a tree is down on the main street side.
I pull down Wertland to drive home, and a huge tree in front of Ashley’s house fell and is blocking the entire road. It took a power cable with it, and fell right in front of a car.
I drive around the back parking lots, taking a bypass around the road, and pull up to my house to get into the driveway, but there is a huge branch and power cables blocking my entrance.
There were several trees that landed on cars – one in particular completely smashed the car in two – which was pretty nasty.
This is the mayhem that was Charlottesville on Tuesday.
I don’t exactly know how it happened, but for 30 minutes or so a huge storm moved through with high winds and wrecked our area. There are more trees down then I’ve seen in hurricanes (which I’ve been through a few). The news reported that wind gusts of over 60mph came through, and a few witnesses claim they saw “spouts” – but it is unsure if there were tornadoes.
We had no power for the rest of the afternoon and night, and finally got power back Wednesday afternoon.
Beau took a bunch of pictures of all the damage, so once I get them from him I will post them up…