After The Storm

[AlittleSalt]

Hi guys, we are doing okay.

I just talked to my brother a minute ago, he told me about this link http://www.wfaa.com/media/cinematic/...-storm-damage/
Rio Vista is 7 miles west of us. Our children went to school there.

So far, there are 8 confirmed EF0 tornadoes that went through this area. There were so many that it caused a Low Pressure area to develop. There was one tornado that passed directly over us, but it was not on the ground. It caused roof damage to the building we were in, lots of tree damage, garden damage, peeled some siding off the back of our home, and 3-1/4 inches of rain in two hours.

It could have been a whole lot worse.

We're having problems staying online, so I'll post this now, and add to it in a few minutes.

[sfmathews]

Glad to hear you made it safely thru that mess. Was watching the weather and wondered if there were any TV'ers in that area.

[AlittleSalt]

I had been watching radar of a storm to our west for hours. It looked like it was going to hit here for hours, but as it got to the county beside ours to the west - the storm started getting smaller and changed from heading east - to heading north. I thought the chances of it hitting here was over. I came here to read and so forth. Then the radar suddenly had storms on it that had not been there before.

Weather is one of my hobbies, it's on TV or computer every day at my house. The two storms had very distinct hook shaped echoes showing. They were following near the Johnson/Hill county line. That's where we live.

The aftermath was my wife an I leaving the building for our house walking through flood water a few inches deep. We live on the side of a hill, so no bad flooding happens here. I jokingly tell people that we ever get deep flood water here - the rest of Texas is in bad trouble.

The electricity went off 7 separate times. We still don't have a phone, but the internet has been up an hour now. We lost most of what was planted in the new garden. There was a flood erosion problem, but I knew it was going to happen - I just didn't know exactly where. I do now.

I am an optimist. I know things could have been a whole lot worse. But they weren't. I've already started thinking of where to plant squash in the other garden.

Robert (AlittleSalt)

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

I had been watching radar of a storm to our west for hours. It looked like it was going to hit here for hours, but as it got to the county beside ours to the west - the storm started getting smaller and changed from heading east - to heading north. I thought the chances of it hitting here was over. I came here to read and so forth. Then the radar suddenly had storms on it that had not been there before.

Weather is one of my hobbies, it's on TV or computer every day at my house. The two storms had very distinct hook shaped echoes showing. They were following near the Johnson/Hill county line. That's where we live.

The aftermath was my wife an I leaving the building for our house walking through flood water a few inches deep. We live on the side of a hill, so no bad flooding happens here. I jokingly tell people that we ever get deep flood water here - the rest of Texas is in bad trouble.

The electricity went off 7 separate times. We still don't have a phone, but the internet has been up an hour now. We lost most of what was planted in the new garden. There was a flood erosion problem, but I knew it was going to happen - I just didn't know exactly where. I do now.

I am an optimist. I know things could have been a whole lot worse. But they weren't. I've already started thinking of where to plant squash in the other garden.

Robert (AlittleSalt)

Wow,glad you're okay, despite all the mess. I miss some of OK but not the tornadoes!

[Mischka]

Please stay vigilant and safe, Robert! Mother Nature can be a cruel mistress.

[Starlight]

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

Hi guys, we are doing okay.

So far, there are 8 confirmed EF0 tornadoes that went through this area. There were so many that it caused a Low Pressure area to develop. There was one tornado that passed directly over us, but it was not on the ground. It caused roof damage to the building we were in, lots of tree damage, garden damage, peeled some siding off the back of our home, and 3-1/4 inches of rain in two hours.

It could have been a whole lot worse.

We're having problems staying online, so I'll post this now, and add to it in a few minutes.

So very glad to see you post. Even it just to say "I'm here, " since your have limited internet.

I know your going to have your hands full with trying to get your home fixed and than your gardens, but when you get ready, if you need any seed or plants, you just holler. Besides myself I am sure there are plenty of other folks here that will help you get up and going again. You have plenty of caring friends here for you.

Looks like there more bad weather coming. Just please keep doing and going to where ever you have to to stay safe.

[RobinB]

I'm so glad you're okay! That is all that matters. I wish I was closer, I'd share my extra plants with you, I've got lots... Let us know what you need, okay?

[bower]

Welcome back, and as the others said, let us know if you need any tomato seed to replace what was lost.

Weather is one of my hobbies too (or should I say obsession?) Usually I can read the radar and give an accurate forecast for our local activities in the 4-hour time frame. But more rarely there are patterns that can't be predicted - they just pop up all of a sudden where nothing is expected. We do get a great variety of weather here, but no tornadoes, ever!
Very freaky stuff, and glad you got away when you did.

[creister]

Robert,

Good to know you came out of that safe, but too bad for your garden. Those storms seem to come out of nowhere. Best of luck getting things back together.

[guruofgardens]

So sorry about your home and property. Like Starlight said, there are many of us that would like to help at any time. Just let us know, please?

Most of us have never experienced that kind of weather. We do want to help.

[AlittleSalt]

Thank You everyone.

The plants lost that were planted from seed were okra, squash, eggplant, cucumber, and Assorted greens. I bought extra seeds for all of them. Thank you for the offer

The potato and tomato plants in our main garden are all still there (65 of them). I trimmed all the stems that the hail broke. I think they'll make it. I had just finished building cages for those tomatoes, and it looks like they helped protect them from the very high winds. The tomatoes in the raised beds and second garden didn't have cages, and most of those are gone. I did trim the broken parts off the Litchi plants. I'm wondering if they will come back a lot more bushy - kind of like pruning rose bushes way back.

This upcoming weekend, my brother plans on using the chainsaw a lot. Luckily, it looks like most of the tree damage was done to weak trees. Cutting those out will give the healthier trees more room to grow. Things will be looking a lot better soon.

[Starlight]

Salt.... Take all them trimmed parts and put them in a plastic cup and mark on the outside what they are if you know, or just put all of them in cups of water if you don't. Those tops will make new roots and new plants really fast. That way if your other ones don't make it you'll have these new rooted ones.

Please, make sure ya holler if you need plants or seeds. You know I have Okra, even though different from yours and I have about 8 types of eggplant seed from Black Beauty to a bunch of types from Asia and oodles of different types of greens.

[KarenO]

Sorry this happened but very glad you and your family are alright! doggone weather
KarenO

[PhilaGardener]

Hang in there! Glad to hear things are OK!

[barefootgardener]

Robert, very happy you and family are safe!! WE were all worried about you!!

Ginny