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We survived..
Sep. 4th, 2006 09:34 pmWe have survived Hurricane Rockford(tm).
12" in 2 hours. Oh My God.
We did end up stranded. I managed to drive through standing water in both of the worst-flooded areas to get to higher ground, but after the NWS announced a Tornado touchdown, we decided to try to head for shelter, where I ended up getting the car stalled after the third attempt at crossing standing water. With help, I got my car pushed into a Mobil gas station where we waited for the next few hours. It was nerve-wracking, because the reports of the tornado claimed that it had touched down at the airport and were headed on a northeastern path towards Cherryvale Mall. In other words, on a direct path towards my house. However, no reports confirm the existence of the tornado, and our house survived relatively unscathed. However, there is a river flowing through my back yard. Eventually, I got a hold of my folks, and around 7pm, got my car to start. The storm started around 3pm. We were thoroughly soaked, Rachel is very hurt and sore from helping me push my car out of water, and so on. But it could've been worse. I knew enough to get us out of the low-lying areas, and we were not one of the ones who had to be rescued or lose their car or home to the damage. However, I did lose a hubcap, and the headlight that I just changed out about 2 weeks ago burned out. But all minor in comparison.
As of 10pm, 40-60 families voluntarily evacuated, the Red Cross is here, some streets are still flooded, and some areas are still without power. But life, as they say, goes on. Rachel and I, after our own adventures this evening, still had to go grocery shopping, and we will still have to go to work tomorrow. So much for a relaxing Labor Day. Ironically, the last major storm to hit here was around 3 years ago, on the 4th of July. What is it with major storms and holidays?
9/4/2006
Hours of rain has resulted in severe flooding across Rockford
Rockford, Illinois - The rain came down in torrents. Unoffical reports say anywhere from three to 10 inches fell in the Rockford area. Residents in Southeast Rockford saw their homes flooded. Some even had their foundations washed out.
"I`ve lived in this end of town since 1952 and I`ve never seen anything like this," says Roger McVay, a Southeast Rockford Resident.
McVay evacuated his house on Kinsey Street after his foundation collapsed from the heavy rains. His basement flooded up to the ceiling. Bennie Otlesby`s home suffered the same fate.
"They condemned it so we don`t know when we`re going to get back into it," says Otlesby. "We`re waiting on an okay to get back in there."
People trying to drive on the streets had trouble too. Many were trapped in their cars and needed to be rescued. Phyllis Bourn was trying to get home.
"Water was all inside my car," says Bourn. "It was completely under water on 20th and Charles Street. I thought I better get out and climbed through a window."
(Rachel and I passed through that previously mentioned intersection. During some of the worst of it today. )
Bourn ended up selling her car to the tow truck company after it was flooded.
In the Value City parking lot on East State Street, cars were under water. Some people were even trapped inside their cars with water touching the rear view mirrors. And at Bed, Bath and Beyond`s parking lot, the Rockford Fire Department had to rescue some motorists from their vehicle. And at Sandy Hollow and Alpine, streets were closed, after becoming impassable.
12" in 2 hours. Oh My God.
We did end up stranded. I managed to drive through standing water in both of the worst-flooded areas to get to higher ground, but after the NWS announced a Tornado touchdown, we decided to try to head for shelter, where I ended up getting the car stalled after the third attempt at crossing standing water. With help, I got my car pushed into a Mobil gas station where we waited for the next few hours. It was nerve-wracking, because the reports of the tornado claimed that it had touched down at the airport and were headed on a northeastern path towards Cherryvale Mall. In other words, on a direct path towards my house. However, no reports confirm the existence of the tornado, and our house survived relatively unscathed. However, there is a river flowing through my back yard. Eventually, I got a hold of my folks, and around 7pm, got my car to start. The storm started around 3pm. We were thoroughly soaked, Rachel is very hurt and sore from helping me push my car out of water, and so on. But it could've been worse. I knew enough to get us out of the low-lying areas, and we were not one of the ones who had to be rescued or lose their car or home to the damage. However, I did lose a hubcap, and the headlight that I just changed out about 2 weeks ago burned out. But all minor in comparison.
As of 10pm, 40-60 families voluntarily evacuated, the Red Cross is here, some streets are still flooded, and some areas are still without power. But life, as they say, goes on. Rachel and I, after our own adventures this evening, still had to go grocery shopping, and we will still have to go to work tomorrow. So much for a relaxing Labor Day. Ironically, the last major storm to hit here was around 3 years ago, on the 4th of July. What is it with major storms and holidays?
9/4/2006
Hours of rain has resulted in severe flooding across Rockford
Rockford, Illinois - The rain came down in torrents. Unoffical reports say anywhere from three to 10 inches fell in the Rockford area. Residents in Southeast Rockford saw their homes flooded. Some even had their foundations washed out.
"I`ve lived in this end of town since 1952 and I`ve never seen anything like this," says Roger McVay, a Southeast Rockford Resident.
McVay evacuated his house on Kinsey Street after his foundation collapsed from the heavy rains. His basement flooded up to the ceiling. Bennie Otlesby`s home suffered the same fate.
"They condemned it so we don`t know when we`re going to get back into it," says Otlesby. "We`re waiting on an okay to get back in there."
People trying to drive on the streets had trouble too. Many were trapped in their cars and needed to be rescued. Phyllis Bourn was trying to get home.
"Water was all inside my car," says Bourn. "It was completely under water on 20th and Charles Street. I thought I better get out and climbed through a window."
(Rachel and I passed through that previously mentioned intersection. During some of the worst of it today. )
Bourn ended up selling her car to the tow truck company after it was flooded.
In the Value City parking lot on East State Street, cars were under water. Some people were even trapped inside their cars with water touching the rear view mirrors. And at Bed, Bath and Beyond`s parking lot, the Rockford Fire Department had to rescue some motorists from their vehicle. And at Sandy Hollow and Alpine, streets were closed, after becoming impassable.
