Lightning striking, again
Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:39 am
Southern summer storms are so common here that we don't really think much about them. They are usually just lots of heavy rain and wind, but they almost always have a LOT of lightning.
We had a storm blow up Sunday afternoon and the lightning was intense! We heard one strike that seemed like it was right on top of us. We've had it blow up a tree in our yard before and it felt like the house had exploded, so we knew this one we heard was real close by.
Indeed, it was on the street behind us where the larger, newer houses in our neighborhood are being built....... it hit the roof of this house and within a matter of minutes it was burning and then fully involved. The homeowners weren't home, they were at a wedding of another family in the neighborhood..... A next-door neighbor got there right after the strike and was able to break out the glass in a rear door and get in to save the family dogs! Yay!
The fire department got there quick enough, but not before the entire upper floors were fully engulfed in flames. The upper floors were a total loss and the lower levels and basement suffered extensive water damage.
One of the things that is so great about living in a close and tight-knit neighborhood - the nearby neighbors who were home were able to call the actual homeowners and tell them what was taking place at their home, and were asking them what items they wanted them to save from their home. And with that information and permission, a lot of their family heirlooms and irreplaceables were saved.
We just watched though, stayed out of the way of those trying to help. We offered but were told they had it under control.
It's scary but it happens.
Would you be prepared? Would those around you? Could you help them and could they help you? Do you even KNOW your neighbors?! Some people don't.
Check up on that insurance policy and make sure your neighbors have contact numbers for you and you for them. And if you don't know your neighbors, then go knock on their door today!
Be prepared! (yes, I was a Boy Scout)
We had a storm blow up Sunday afternoon and the lightning was intense! We heard one strike that seemed like it was right on top of us. We've had it blow up a tree in our yard before and it felt like the house had exploded, so we knew this one we heard was real close by.
Indeed, it was on the street behind us where the larger, newer houses in our neighborhood are being built....... it hit the roof of this house and within a matter of minutes it was burning and then fully involved. The homeowners weren't home, they were at a wedding of another family in the neighborhood..... A next-door neighbor got there right after the strike and was able to break out the glass in a rear door and get in to save the family dogs! Yay!
The fire department got there quick enough, but not before the entire upper floors were fully engulfed in flames. The upper floors were a total loss and the lower levels and basement suffered extensive water damage.
One of the things that is so great about living in a close and tight-knit neighborhood - the nearby neighbors who were home were able to call the actual homeowners and tell them what was taking place at their home, and were asking them what items they wanted them to save from their home. And with that information and permission, a lot of their family heirlooms and irreplaceables were saved.
We just watched though, stayed out of the way of those trying to help. We offered but were told they had it under control.
It's scary but it happens.
Would you be prepared? Would those around you? Could you help them and could they help you? Do you even KNOW your neighbors?! Some people don't.
Check up on that insurance policy and make sure your neighbors have contact numbers for you and you for them. And if you don't know your neighbors, then go knock on their door today!
Be prepared! (yes, I was a Boy Scout)