Memories of the Storm
By Val
@valmnz (17089)
New Zealand
August 18, 2016 1:44am CST
Twelve years ago, 18 August 2004, we experienced a storm like no other. The wind roared around our home, threatening to lift the roof from our house. With a lot of furniture stored in one room downstairs, ready to be collected by a local trader the next day, our house already seemed empty. We were preparing to move to another home.
When the storm reached its height in the middle of the night we no longer felt safe upstairs. We decided to drag the mattress from our bed downstairs, in case the roof decided to lift from the house. This was the worst storm we'd ever experienced.
In the wee hours of the morning our neighbour knocked on the door. One of the many of our trees that had come down had banged against her window and she was scared. The three of us sat on the mattress together for the rest of the night, trying to ignore the storm outside that was trying to rip the world apart.
At daybreak we inspected the damage outside. While both our homes were okay, our property wasn't. Many trees were down and it was to be days before we could leave the property without crawling under or across fallen trees.
Hopefully we will never have to live through a storm like that again.
20 people like this
21 responses
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
18 Aug 16
I feel nervous too when a storm rages - just like when I hear the sirens of firetrucks.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
18 Aug 16
@valmnz I'm sure that was terrible indeed, Ms. Val, and I really can't imagine the fear you had at that time.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17089)
• New Zealand
18 Aug 16
@sunrisefan since then we've said we'll never live with large trees on our property, they are too much responsibility.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28830)
• Philippines
18 Aug 16
Storms are terrible and I know exactly what you felt and meant.
Philippines is one of the most storm hit country on earth. 8 to 9 hit us yearly on average and around 10 enter our area of responsibility
1 person likes this
@louievill (28830)
• Philippines
18 Aug 16
@valmnz i must admit yes, natural calamities is a way of life if you live here but somehow we have learned to adopt. That storm that hit you, you must have been very near the eye that is why there is so much devastation.
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@valmnz (17089)
• New Zealand
18 Aug 16
@louievill Wellington can have some fierce storms, but that was the worst while we lived there.
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@silvermist (19657)
• India
18 Aug 16
@valmnz That was really terrible. I am sure you sometimes relive that nightmare in your memories.It is good that except for that fallen tree,nothing dangerous happened and you are safe.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39500)
• United States
18 Aug 16
bless yer heart, hon. i bet such 'twas terrifyin', jest so thankful that y'all t'weren't injured 'n the damage more severe. i hope ya ne'er 'xperience such 'gain neither. i'm kinda shocked yer neighbor came out'n that?? no doubt she 'twas relieved to stay with y'all 'til the dawn 'f day.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39500)
• United States
18 Aug 16
@valmnz i bet so! we've 'd some purty serious winds here o'er the years. one's that'd rock the house. jest hearin' all the racket 'n e'en wee branches whippin' 'round 'tis most unnervin'.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (106267)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Aug 16
That's a great shot. That had to be a frightening experience.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99311)
• Canada
18 Aug 16
Wow that sounds very scary. I am glad to hear that you and your house survived it. How terrifying for all of you that night.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153515)
• India
19 Aug 16
You took me to my experience last year in July when a mini tornado visited our place. It was kind of localised. There were so many trees in our compound that got uprooted and one a very tall tree d gently glided to almost touch the terrace of our neighbour but did not damage anything.
I had a lot of work to do to clear the debris which was a few truck loads.
All is well now.
@just4him (323055)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
21 Aug 16
I'm glad the house didn't get ripped apart in the storm and you were okay. Better trees than lives.
