Strong Storm Makes Quick Pass Through City

[Rob]

There is word it may have been another tornado.

http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2010/09 ... en-island/


2007 Brooklyn tornado: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Brooklyn_tornadoes

one of those things where there is absolutely no warning.

Wow check this one out looks amazing: http://gawker.com/5640309/tornado-hits- ... o-brooklyn

[laditek]

If it wasn't a tornado, it was at least "vertical winds". TheLight and I have trees down and shrapnel from the slate roofs (they got ripped off by the wind) that caused a completely broken window frame (wood exploded and glass went everywhere) among other pieces of damage. By some miracle power wasn't out but it was really good to know that even if it had been we have enough things stored to be fine.

TheLight is out helping our neighbors clean up and knowing him, giving them a few tips on being ready for more freak weather. Really rings home what Charlie was saying at the meeting about the aftermath of something like this being a wake up call for non-preppers that it CAN happen to them, not just other people they see on tv in far away places.

[ais4122]

I was keeping a close watch on the storm, glad it didnt hit as hard out here on eastern LI.

[thelight]

I think this was a small tornado-cane... The damage is surprising in this area. Trees down all over the place and some minor and major structural damage to dozens of homes. As Laditek pointed out, we had our upper windows blown in by slate roofing shrapnel. I took a bunch of pics and put them up on a public facebook album. Link here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/albu ... d=17502358

Some Highlights...
This tree collapsed and destroyed the entire rear wall of that house.


You can see tree tops completely gone next to the school over here.


Trees on the streets literally blew over and covered/destroyed cars that were parked there.


Even bus stops weren't safe.


The extent of the damage of Casa Del Light & Ladi


Three houses down. That used to be a two car garage, complete with two cars in it.


As you can see. Lots of damage. The worst part, though, was going out with my chainsaw to help an elderly neighbor and having him ask me how much... Don't neighbors help neighbors anymore? As I walked around the area, I saw that happening very infrequently. Very Sad.

Lesson's Learned:

1. Alternate routes are amazing. If I had taken the roads my GPS suggested right off, it would have taken me three hours to get home. By using both the detour button and just saying the hell with it and taking a right or left turn got me home in 30 minutes.
2. Storm Windows only work if they're in. And if slate roofing isn't flying around at 50+ MPH.
3. Anything can happen on very short notice.
4. NYC is becoming the new tornado alley.
5. I really need to move out of the city.

[charlie505]

WOW - glad you two are all right.

I was home and watched the storm come in from NJ. My wife got home maybe 10 minutes before the storm hit. It was scary but not as bad as your location. That is a lot of damage.