TOPIC: In case anyone missed it... the wind really kicked southern IL's ass

www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gToxGRg5OgeiVpllCklfwJCmigjgD98348NG0 <br /><br /><br />Which might be why Jeff hasn't posted lately.... We got hit hard Friday by what many are comparing to an "inland hurricane".... Many huge, huge trees were just uprooted.... Things are pretty wrecked all over town. Nothing hit my house, though a tree in the back yard flattened a very large chunk the security fence pretty good.<br /><br />Power was out all over southern IL Friday and Saturday. Here in Marion we just got power back this morning. I don't know how Carbondale's power situation is. <br /><br />I'm going to guess that the Token Stuffing party Saturday at Jeff's sign shop in Carbondale was cancelled, heh.... Perhaps he will reschedule it. <br /><br />

Hope everyone's okay.<br />

Crazy weekend!<br /><br />Todd, Smakdown and I were all headed back in different vehicles from the warehouse when the inland hurricane hit.  We got separated by falling trees and power lines, but I am afraid Smak's truck won't be the same after that day.  <br /><br />Everyone is fine here.  Our house's lot lost a lot of trees -- and one decided to smash in our skylight.  Our sign shop did okay, but flying debris destroyed the siding on one side.  Hail the size of tennis balls from earlier probably did in the roof.  Still, feel pretty lucky.  When I saw a bill board crumble and a Subway sign fly by, I figured out pretty fast I should get off the road and head for nearby bank.<br /><br />BTW, the Wizard Park seemed to have survived okay, but the big trees all took some damage.  At least the castle is fine!<br /><br />And the warehouse did okay...only minor water damage to some TD stuff.  We got lucky there.  All electronics made their Reflex saves.<br /><br /> www.wpsdlocal6.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=15264@wpsd.dayport.com&navCatId=3 <br /><br />

Glad to hear that everyone is okay.  Sorry to hear about Smak's truck and other damage.<br /><br />Kim

It is good to hear that everything is OK.  Weather like that is... well... undescribable, freaky and I'm just grateful that everyone got out unscathed.<br /><br />On a more light side, I heard rumors that Smak's truck is damaged because he put his entire collection of tokens in the back, and it was only rated for a few tons.  Are these rumors true?  Or was it weather related?

um, I'll take my quakes and brush fires...y'all can keep that weather alls to ya self!

I got a minor taste of what you guys faced a few springs back when it suddenly started hailing while I was at work.  The hail storm lasted like 10 to 15 minutes and it literally looked like it had snowed!  HR was freaking out and wouldn't let anyone leave the building and kept everyone away from the windows (which was probably very wise).  We had almost an inch of hail accumulation, a lot of the pieces in the pea size category and a few in the golf ball size (I didn't hear of any tennis ball sized ones).  My car was literally peppered with little dents and some people had broken glass from it (one of the female workers had her back window and side mirror shattered.  Every vehicle in the lot had at least a couple thousands of dollars worth of damage.  When it was over, I walked out to check my car and almost lost my footing several times due to the extreme slipperiness of the hail.  There is nothing quite like the helpless feeling you get watching Mother Nature rage, knowing there is nothing you can do but seek safety and watch!  I'm so glad to hear that it wasn't any worse in the loss of life or damage categories. 

Man, I miss weather - altho I did not enjoy yhr thunderstorms I drove thru on the way to STL after TR!<br />

i was in the middle of it all, as was todd. my truck looks pretty bad, but thats okay as long as nobody got hurt. it is weird to watch "great big ole" trees come crashing down around you. or the building "just down the road" that you plan on using for shelter, have the brick facing collapse.  =| i saw more than one vehicle get crunched. i am just happy that more injuries did not happen.<br /><br />kind of on topic:<br /><br /> i will call this the first running of True Disaster and Jeff M., Todd L., and myself survived a nightmare run. 

<br />It's a good thing you were using your +3 Truck of Defense.  <br /><br />Glad you're all safe and sound!<br /><br />

This is why we need more pollution and clear-cutting. Mother Nature only understands reprisals with force.

<br />This is why we need more pollution and clear-cutting. Mother Nature only understands reprisals with force.<br />

<br /><br /> this sounds funny. i have witnessed many disasters and i have to say, "man doesn't even hold a candle to what Mother Nature can do."